Method for optimizing occupant protection in a collision of a motor vehicle, computer program product and motor vehicle

Abstract

A method for optimizing occupant protection in a motor vehicle collision is described, wherein the motor vehicle has a height-adjustable chassis, at least one sensor, and a control system connected to the at least one sensor and the height-adjustable chassis, wherein an obstacle is detected before the collision using at least one sensor, wherein the chassis level of the height-adjustable chassis is adjusted before the collision, wherein the obstacle is measured using the at least one sensor and measurement data is generated, wherein an optimal chassis level is determined based on the measurement data, and wherein the optimal chassis level is set before the collision.

Description

[0001] A method for optimising occupant protection in the event of a collision of a motor vehicle, a computer program product and a motor vehicle are described.

[0002] Methods for optimising occupant protection in the event of a collision involving a motor vehicle, computer program products and motor vehicles of the type mentioned above are known in the prior art.

[0003] The crumple zone of a motor vehicle is a key safety feature designed to absorb the forces generated in an accident and thereby protect the occupants from serious injuries. It consists of specially designed areas of the vehicle structure that deform in a targeted manner to reduce impact energy and direct it away from the passenger compartment. Optimal use of the crumple zone is therefore crucial to ensure the full protective effect of these structures.

[0004] In practice, however, particular difficulties arise when collisions occur with, for example, high-altitude obstacles such as loading ramps, trailers, or truck bodies. In such cases, the vehicle's primary crumple zones—usually located at the lower front of the vehicle—may not be able to fully absorb the impact energy. Instead, there is a risk that the vehicle will undermine the obstacle's crumple zone, transferring the impact directly to less protected areas, such as the A-pillars or roof structure. This can significantly impair the protective effect of the crumple zone and expose the occupants to a greater risk of injury.

[0005] WO 2000 / 071370 A1 discloses a motor vehicle with a suspension and damping device arranged between the chassis and the body. To reduce the risk of injury to vehicle occupants in an accident, the invention provides a sensor device for detecting an impending impact. In the event of an impending impact, the sensor device transmits a signal to a control device of the motor vehicle, which then, by means of the suspension and damping device, causes a positional adjustment of the body at least on the impact side prior to the impact.

[0006] However, this system is not designed to be adaptive, but rather reacts in the same way to every impact, regardless of whether it is with a high or low obstacle.

[0007] The task therefore arises of further developing methods for optimising occupant protection in the event of a collision involving a motor vehicle, computer programme products and motor vehicles of the type mentioned above so that the crumple zones can also be effective in atypical scenarios.

[0008] The object is achieved by a method for optimizing occupant protection in the event of a collision of a motor vehicle according to claim 1, a computer program product according to the independent claim 6 and a motor vehicle according to the independent claim 7. Further embodiments and developments are the subject of the dependent claims.

[0009] A method is described for optimising occupant protection in the event of a collision of a motor vehicle, wherein the motor vehicle has a height-adjustable chassis, at least one sensor and a control system connected to the at least one sensor and the height-adjustable chassis, wherein an obstacle is detected before the collision using at least one sensor, wherein a chassis level of the height-adjustable chassis is adjusted before the collision, wherein the obstacle is measured using the at least one sensor and measurement data is generated, wherein an optimum chassis level is determined on the basis of the measurement data, wherein the optimum chassis level is set before the collision.

[0010] In this way, the safety of the vehicle’s occupants can be increased.

[0011] In a first further embodiment, it is provided that the at least one sensor is a radar sensor, a lidar sensor and / or a camera sensor.

[0012] In a further further embodiment, it is provided that an impact height is determined from the measurement data, wherein the optimal chassis level is determined in such a way that the motor vehicle hits the obstacle with a crumple zone.

[0013] In a further refinement, it is provided that, on the basis of the measurement data and data on the driving condition of the motor vehicle, movement scenarios after the collision are calculated depending on the chassis level.

[0014] In a further refinement, it is provided that the optimal chassis level differs for each axle or wheel.

[0015] A first independent subject matter relates to a computer program product comprising a computer-readable storage medium on which instructions are embedded which, when executed by at least one computing unit, cause the at least one computing unit to be configured to carry out the method of the aforementioned type.

[0016] The method can be carried out in a distributed manner on one or more computing units, so that certain method steps are carried out on one computing unit and other method steps are carried out on at least one further computing unit, whereby calculated data can be transmitted between the computing units if necessary.

[0017] Another independent subject matter relates to a motor vehicle with a computer program product of the type described above.

[0018] Further advantages, features, and details will become apparent from the following description, which – where appropriate with reference to the drawings – describes at least one embodiment in detail. Identical, similar, and / or functionally equivalent parts are provided with the same reference numerals.

[0019] They show schematically: Fig. 1 a side view of a motor vehicle with a height-adjustable chassis, and Fig. 2a-c different phases of the process for optimizing the occupant protection of the motor vehicle occupants from Fig. 1.

[0020] Fig. 1 shows a side view of a motor vehicle 2.

[0021] The motor vehicle 2 has a controller 4 which is connected to a radar sensor 6 at the front of the motor vehicle 2, wherein the radar sensor 6 is configured to scan and measure an area in front of the motor vehicle 2.

[0022] The controller 4 is further connected to a height-adjustable chassis 8. The height-adjustable chassis 8 serves to adjust a chassis level N of the motor vehicle 2.

[0023] The control system 4 is configured to adjust the height-adjustable chassis 8 wheel by wheel, so that the motor vehicle 2 can be raised or lowered either only at one corner or at one axle, or can be raised or lowered differently at different wheels.

[0024] Motor vehicle 2 has crumple zones 10 at the front and 12 at the rear, designed to absorb impact energy in the event of a collision. Crumple zones 10 and 12 offer better protection than an unprotected area 14 at the height of a windshield. A collision with an obstacle in area 14 could have more severe consequences for occupants of motor vehicle 2 than a collision with the obstacle in the area of ​​crumple zone 10.

[0025] The Fig. 2a to 2c show the sequence of the procedure described here.

[0026] If, as in Fig. 2a, the motor vehicle 2 detects an obstacle 20 in an area in front of the motor vehicle 2 while driving with the aid of the radar sensor 6, a height H of the obstacle 20 is determined with the aid of the radar sensor 6 and it is calculated whether, in the event of an impending collision, the collision would occur in the area of ​​a crumple zone 10 or in the area 14. In the case shown here, the height H of the obstacle 20 is too high for a normal chassis level Nn and a collision is to be expected in the area 14.

[0027] As in Fig. 2b, in such a case the control 4 acts on the height-adjustable chassis 8 and raises the chassis level to an ideal height Ni, which is determined such that the obstacle 20 hits the motor vehicle 2 in the area of ​​a crumple zone, here the front crumple zone 10.

[0028] When calculating the ideal chassis height Ni, scenario planning also takes place after the collision in order to check what influence the chassis level N has on the trajectory of motor vehicle 2 in order to be able to determine whether motor vehicle 2 might subsequently encounter further hazardous scenarios.

[0029] As in Fig. As shown in Figure 2c, raising the chassis level of the motor vehicle 2 to an ideal chassis level Ni causes a collision with the obstacle 20 in the area of ​​the crumple zone 10, thereby preventing the vehicle from driving under the obstacle 20. This can significantly increase safety for the occupants of the motor vehicle 2.

[0030] Although the invention has been illustrated and explained in detail by means of preferred embodiments, the invention is not limited by the disclosed examples, and other variations may be derived therefrom by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention. It is therefore clear that a multitude of possible variations exist. It is also clear that the embodiments mentioned by way of example are truly only examples and should not be construed as limiting the scope, possible applications, or configuration of the invention in any way.Rather, the preceding description and the description of the figures enable the person skilled in the art to implement the exemplary embodiments in concrete terms, whereby the person skilled in the art, with knowledge of the disclosed inventive concept, can make various changes, for example with regard to the function or the arrangement of individual elements mentioned in an exemplary embodiment, without departing from the scope of protection defined by the claims and their legal equivalents, such as a further explanation in the description. List of reference symbols 2 motor vehicles 4 Control 6 radar sensor 8 height-adjustable chassis 10 crumple zone 12 crumple zone 14 Danger zone 20 Obstacle H Height of obstacle N Chassis level Nn normal chassis level Ni optimal chassis level QUOTES CONTAINED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents submitted by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the convenience of the reader. This list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] WO 2000 / 071370 A1

[0005]

Claims

[1] Method for optimising occupant protection in the event of a collision of a motor vehicle (2), wherein the motor vehicle (2) has a height-adjustable chassis (8), at least one sensor (6) and a control (4) connected to the at least one sensor (6) and the height-adjustable chassis (8), wherein an obstacle (20) is detected before the collision by means of at least one sensor (6), wherein a chassis level (N) of the height-adjustable chassis (8) is adjusted before the collision, characterized by that the obstacle (20) is measured by means of the at least one sensor (6) and measurement data are generated, wherein an optimal chassis level (Ni) is determined on the basis of the measurement data, wherein the optimal chassis level (Ni) is set before the collision. [2] Method according to claim 1, characterized by that the at least one sensor is a radar sensor (6), a lidar sensor and / or a camera sensor. [3] Method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by in that an impact height (H) is determined from the measurement data, the optimum chassis level (Ni) being determined in such a way that the motor vehicle (2) hits the obstacle (20) with a crumple zone (10, 12). [4] Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that, on the basis of the measurement data and data on the driving condition of the motor vehicle (2), movement scenarios after the collision are calculated depending on the chassis level. [5] Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the optimal chassis level (Ni) varies from axle to axle or from wheel to wheel. [6] Computer program product, comprising a computer-readable storage medium on which instructions are embedded which, when executed by at least one computing unit, cause the at least one computing unit to be adapted to carry out the method according to one of the preceding claims. [7] Motor vehicle with a computer program product according to claim 6.

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