Methods and systems for reducing the consequences of a collision

Abstract

Method for reducing the consequences of a collision of a vehicle (1, 21), wherein the vehicle (1, 21) comprises a front axle (5) and / or a rear axle (6) with at least one roll stabilization device (15, 16) with which moments can be applied for roll stabilization in the area of ​​the front axle (5) and / or the rear axle (6), wherein in the event of a collision protective moments (27, 28) are generated with the aid of the at least one roll stabilization device (15, 16) which reduce the consequences of a collision, characterized in that in the event of a collision, mutual protective moments (27, 28) are generated with the aid of the roll stabilization devices (15, 16) in the area of ​​the front axle (5) and the rear axle (6) which have opposite directions of action with respect to a roll axis (7) and which counteract a collision-induced torsion (24, 25) of the vehicle (21).

Description

The invention relates to a method according to the preamble of claim 1 and a system according to the preamble of claim 4. German patent application DE 10 2013 021 485 A1 discloses a method for mitigating the consequences of a collision between a vehicle and another vehicle, wherein the vehicle level of the other vehicle is adjusted based on a determined vehicle level of the other vehicle, and furthermore, a horizontal overlap between a deformation area of ​​the other vehicle and the other vehicle is determined. Depending on the determined horizontal overlap, an automatic steering intervention is then performed to increase the horizontal overlap. German patent application DE 103 32 935 B4 discloses a motor vehicle with a Pre-Safe system, which comprises at least one vehicle environment detection device and a suspension and damping device.which is arranged between a chassis and a body and can be controlled depending on the signals received by the vehicle environment detection device and evaluated in a data evaluation unit, wherein the data evaluation unit of the vehicle environment detection device is linked to a control unit of an active chassis control system that controls the suspension and damping system, by means of which, in a pre-crash phase, in the event of an expected impact of a collision object on a side sill area, a moment is applied that counteracts a tilting moment of the vehicle in the direction of the collision object, wherein an adjustment time for the vehicle level is variable depending on a relative speed to the collision object. The German patent application DE 10 2011 105 490 A1 discloses a method for operating a vehicle with a partial mass which, in the event of a detected,The vehicle is accelerated in the event of an impending collision or during a collision by means of at least one acceleration unit in the opposite direction to a force applied by the collision, wherein the partial mass of the vehicle is accelerated depending on a determined collision severity, wherein the acceleration units are activated simultaneously or with a time delay depending on the determined collision severity, and wherein an angular momentum opposite to a roll impulse resulting from a roll of the vehicle is generated by means of the partial mass. German patent application DE 103 52 212 A1 discloses a vehicle in which, in addition to a suspension and / or damping device, at least one lifting device that can be actuated with a control signal from a control unit is provided.by means of which a vehicle body can be raised and / or lowered into an optimal crash position. German patent application DE 10 2004 017 634 A1 discloses a method for roll stabilization of a motor vehicle, wherein, in the event that a predetermined threshold is exceeded by a determined roll angle, a suitable stabilization measure is activated by means of an activation device. The object of the invention is to reduce the consequences of collisions between vehicles comprising a front axle and a rear axle with roll stabilization devices, with which counter-moments can be applied for roll stabilization in the area of ​​the front axle and the rear axle. The problem is solved by a method with the features of claim 1. With the claimed method, undesirable deformation of a vehicle body can be advantageously reduced in the event of an asymmetric collision. As part of the process, conventional roll stabilization devices are used, for example, to generate the protective moments, which differ from conventional counter-moments that counteract the roll moment. A preferred embodiment of the method is characterized in that, in the event of a frontal collision, a protective moment is introduced in the area of ​​the front axle by means of the roll stabilization devices, which opposes a protective moment introduced in the area of ​​the rear axle. In a frontal collision, particularly in an asymmetric frontal collision, the vehicle body can be twisted about its longitudinal axis and / or its roll axis. The protective moments introduced by means of the roll stabilization devices counteract this twisting. Another preferred embodiment of the method is characterized in that the protective moments in the area of ​​the front axle and the rear axle have the same directions of action. This advantageously allows, for example, better overlap with a crash barrier to be created. Another preferred embodiment of the method is characterized in that the protective moments in the area of ​​the front axle and the rear axle are introduced in such a way as to increase the overlap between the vehicle and an obstacle during a collision. Depending on the obstacle, the level of the vehicle can be raised or lowered on one side. Another preferred embodiment of the method is characterized in that the protective moments in the area of ​​the front axle and the rear axle are introduced in such a way that an alternative crash structure is stressed during the collision. This advantageously allows impact energy to be dissipated during the collision. In a system for reducing the consequences of a collision of a vehicle, which includes a front axle and a rear axle with roll stabilization devices with which counter-moments can be applied in the area of ​​the front axle and the rear axle to counteract a roll moment, the above-mentioned problem is solved alternatively or additionally by generating protective moments in the event of a collision with the help of the roll stabilization devices, which reduce the consequences of the collision, according to a previously described method. The invention further relates to a computer program product comprising program code for carrying out a previously described method. The computer program is executed, for example, in a control unit of a motor vehicle. The invention also relates to a control unit for controlling roll stabilization with such a computer program. The control unit advantageously interacts with a vehicle environment detection device and the vehicle's roll stabilization devices. The invention also relates to a motor vehicle with roll stabilization and a previously described control unit. The roll stabilization includes, for example, roll stabilization devices as disclosed in German patent application DE 10 2010 010 869 A1. Further advantages, features, and details of the invention will become apparent from the following description, in which various exemplary embodiments are described in detail with reference to the drawing. Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a conventional vehicle with roll stabilization, and Figure 2 shows the vehicle from Figure 1, with arrows indicating how, in the event of a collision, protective moments are generated by means of the roll stabilization, which reduce the consequences of the collision. Figure 1 shows a simplified perspective view of a vehicle 1 with a body 3. The vehicle 1 comprises a front axle 5 and a rear axle 6. A roll axis 7 runs between the front axle 5 and the rear axle 6. An arrow 9 indicates a roll moment that occurs during the operation of the vehicle 1 and acts about the roll axis 7. The front axle 5 comprises unspecified suspensions for two front wheels 11 and 12. Similarly, the rear axle 6 comprises (also unspecified) suspensions for rear wheels 13 and 14. Furthermore, the front axle 5 includes a roll stabilization device 15. The rear axle 6 includes a roll stabilization device 16. Arrows 17 and 18 indicate counter-moments generated by the roll stabilization devices 15 and 16. The counter-moments 17 and 18 counteract the roll moment 9. Figure 2 shows a vehicle 21 similar to that shown in Figure 1. The same reference numerals are used to designate identical or similar parts. To avoid repetition, reference is made to the preceding description of Figure 1. Arrows 24 and 25 in Fig. 2 indicate moments that, in the event of a collision, act on the vehicle 21 in the area of ​​the front axle 5 and the rear axle 6. Moment 24 acts in the area of ​​the front axle 5. Moment 25 acts in the area of ​​the rear axle 6 and is directed opposite to moment 24. The opposing moments 24 and 25 cause a crash-induced torsion of the body 3 of vehicle 21. These moments 24 and 25 are triggered, for example, by asymmetrical crash events. The crash-induced torsion of vehicle 21 is undesirable because it can lead to intrusions and deformations of vehicle 21. Arrows 27 and 28 indicate protective measures which, through a reciprocal response of the roll stabilization, cause a torsion of the body 3 that counteracts the crash-induced torsion 24 and 25. This can prevent or reduce undesirable deformation of the body 3. A control unit is indicated by a rectangle 30, which is connected (not shown) to the roll stabilization devices 15, 16 of the vehicle 21. The protective moment 27 is initiated in the area of ​​the front axle 5 of the vehicle 21 by means of the roll stabilization device 15. The protective moment 27 opposes the crash-induced moment 24. The roll stabilization device 16 introduces the protective moment 28 in the area of ​​the rear axle 6 of the vehicle 21. The protective moment 28 opposes the crash-induced moment 25. The roll stabilization system with the roll stabilization devices 15, 16 is also referred to as an anti-roll system. The anti-roll system serves to prevent unwanted roll movements of the vehicle 1; 21 at the front axle 5 or the rear axle 6 about the roll axis 7 of the vehicle 1; 21. The roll stabilization devices 15, 16 include, for example, actuators designed as hydraulic cylinders. Actuator lines allow the working chambers of the actuators to be alternately and selectively pressurized with hydraulic pressure in order to minimize, for example, the roll angle when the vehicle 1; 21 is cornering. In vehicle 21, the roll stabilization devices 15, 16 are used to generate protective moments 27, 28 in the event of a collision. The protective moments 27, 28 shown in Fig. 2 act in opposite directions. Therefore, this is also referred to as a reciprocal response of the roll stabilization. The mutual response of the roll stabilization or anti-roll system serves to apply the previously described opposite torsion in order to counteract the undesirable deformation of the body 3. Contrary to what is shown, in the event of a collision, the roll stabilization devices 15, 16 can also be used to initiate a symmetrical roll of the body 3 of the vehicle 21. During symmetrical roll, the roll stabilization devices 15 and 16 generate symmetrical protective moments and initiate them in the area of ​​the front axle 5 and the rear axle 6 of the vehicle 21. The symmetrical roll of the body 3 is helpful, for example, to create better overlap between the body 3 of the vehicle 21 and a crash barrier (not shown).

Claims

Method for reducing the consequences of a collision of a vehicle (1, 21), wherein the vehicle (1, 21) comprises a front axle (5) and / or a rear axle (6) with at least one roll stabilization device (15, 16) with which moments can be applied for roll stabilization in the area of ​​the front axle (5) and / or the rear axle (6), wherein in the event of a collision protective moments (27, 28) are generated with the aid of the at least one roll stabilization device (15, 16) which reduce the consequences of a collision, characterized in that in the event of a collision, mutual protective moments (27, 28) are generated with the aid of the roll stabilization devices (15, 16) in the area of ​​the front axle (5) and the rear axle (6) which have opposite directions of action with respect to a roll axis (7) and which counteract a collision-induced torsion (24, 25) of the vehicle (21). Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the protective moments in the area of ​​the front axle (5) and the rear axle (6) are introduced in such a way as to increase the overlap between the vehicle (1,21) and an obstacle in the event of a collision. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the protective moments in the area of ​​the front axle (5) and the rear axle (6) are introduced in such a way that an alternative crash structure is required in the event of a collision. System for reducing the consequences of a collision of a vehicle, comprising a front axle (5) and a rear axle (6) with roll stabilization devices (15, 16) with which counter-moments (17, 18) can be applied for roll stabilization in the area of ​​the front axle (5) and the rear axle (6) which counteract a roll moment (9), characterized in that in the event of a collision protective moments (27, 28) are generated with the aid of the roll stabilization devices (15, 16) which reduce the consequences of the collision, according to a method according to one of the preceding claims. Computer program product comprising program code for performing a method according to one of claims 1 to 3. Control unit for controlling roll stabilization with a computer program product according to claim 5. Motor vehicle with roll stabilization and with a control unit according to claim 6. The sensing of the crash with subsequent initiation of the actuator reaction according to claims 1 to 7 is carried out by the sensing devices that act before the collision. The sensing of the crash with subsequent initiation of the actuator reaction according to claims 1 to 7 is carried out by the sensing devices that act at or shortly after the collision.

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