Retrofittable tracking device, system, land vehicle, tracking method for a land vehicle, and method for locating a land vehicle in a body of water

Abstract

A retrofittable tracking device for a land vehicle is proposed. The retrofittable tracking device comprises a fastening means for attaching the retrofittable tracking device to the land vehicle and a water sensor configured to detect contact with water. Furthermore, the retrofittable tracking device comprises a control circuit configured to control at least one ultrasonic transducer of the retrofittable tracking device to output an ultrasonic signal when the water sensor detects contact with water. Alternatively or additionally, the control circuit is configured to control at least one light source of the retrofittable tracking device to output a light signal when the water sensor detects contact with water.

Description

Technical area

[0001] The present disclosure relates to the tracking of land vehicles. More specifically, examples of the present disclosure relate to a retrofittable tracking device, a system, a land vehicle, a tracking method for a land vehicle, and a method for locating a land vehicle in a body of water. background

[0002] Means of transport such as bicycles, electric bikes, and electric scooters are enjoying great popularity. Unfortunately, these vehicles are repeatedly vandalized and are sometimes carelessly thrown into bodies of water. This can result in significant financial losses for both owners and rental companies, as the vehicles cannot be located and retrieved in water using conventional tracking technologies such as global navigation satellite systems (e.g., Global Positioning System - GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, or Beidou). In battery-powered vehicles, the release of chemical substances from the battery into water can also cause significant environmental pollution.

[0003] Against this background, one task is to enable improved tracking of land vehicles. Summary

[0004] The object is achieved according to the invention by a retrofittable locating device, a system, a land vehicle, a locating method for a land vehicle, and a method for locating a land vehicle in a body of water according to the independent claims. Further aspects and developments are described in the dependent claims, the following description, and the figures.

[0005] According to a first aspect, the present disclosure relates to a retrofittable tracking device for a land vehicle. The retrofittable tracking device comprises a fastening means for attaching the retrofittable tracking device to the land vehicle, as well as a water sensor configured to detect contact with water. Furthermore, the retrofittable tracking device comprises a control circuit configured to control at least one ultrasonic transducer of the retrofittable tracking device to output an ultrasonic signal when the water sensor detects contact with water. Alternatively or additionally, the control circuit is configured to control at least one light source of the retrofittable tracking device to output a light signal when the water sensor detects contact with water.

[0006] According to a second aspect, the present disclosure relates to a system comprising a retrofittable tracking device according to the first aspect and a land vehicle. The land vehicle comprises a chassis and a plurality of wheels movably mounted on the chassis and enabling movement of the land vehicle relative to a ground surface of the land vehicle. The retrofittable tracking device is attached to a component of the land vehicle by means of its fastening means.

[0007] According to a third aspect, the present disclosure relates to a land vehicle comprising a chassis and a plurality of wheels that are movably mounted on the chassis and enable movement of the land vehicle relative to a surface of the land vehicle. Furthermore, the land vehicle comprises a water sensor configured to detect contact with water, and a control circuit. The control circuit is configured to control an ultrasonic transducer of the land vehicle to output an ultrasonic signal when the water sensor detects contact with water, and / or to control a light source of the land vehicle to output a light signal when the water sensor detects contact with water.

[0008] According to a fourth aspect, the present disclosure relates to a locating method for a land vehicle. The locating method comprises detecting, by a water sensor of the land vehicle, whether the land vehicle is in contact with water. Furthermore, the locating method comprises transmitting an ultrasonic signal for locating the land vehicle by means of an ultrasonic transducer of the land vehicle and / or a light signal for locating the land vehicle by means of a light source of the land vehicle if the water sensor detects contact with water.

[0009] According to a fifth aspect, the present disclosure relates to a method for locating a land vehicle in a body of water. The method comprises checking whether an ultrasonic signal and / or a light signal is emitted below a water surface of the body of water, and determining that the land vehicle is located in the body of water if an ultrasonic signal and / or a light signal is emitted below the water surface of the body of water.

[0010] The emitted ultrasonic signal and / or the emitted light signal can be detected at the water surface. Accordingly, a land vehicle located in a body of water can be located from land and recovered. An owner or rental company can thus retrieve or recover a land vehicle thrown into a body of water. Battery-powered land vehicles can also be located and recovered in water, thus reducing the risk of chemical substances from the battery leaking into the water. Short character description

[0011] Some examples of devices and / or methods are explained in more detail below with reference to the accompanying figures. They show: Fig. 1 shows schematically a first example of a retrofittable tracking device; Fig. Figure 2 shows schematically a second example of a retrofittable tracking device; Fig. Figure 3 shows a schematic diagram of a system comprising a land vehicle and a retrofittable tracking device; Fig. 4 shows schematically an exemplary land vehicle; Fig. 5 shows a flowchart of an example of a positioning method for a land vehicle; and Fig. 6 shows a flowchart of an example of a method for locating a land vehicle in a body of water. Description

[0012] Some examples will now be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying figures. However, other possible examples are not limited to the features of these detailed embodiments. These may include modifications of the features, as well as equivalents and alternatives to the features. Furthermore, the terminology used herein to describe specific examples is not intended to be limiting of other possible examples.

[0013] Throughout the description of the figures, identical or similar reference numerals refer to identical or similar elements or features, which may be implemented identically or in a modified form while providing the same or a similar function. Furthermore, the thickness of lines, layers, and / or regions in the figures may be exaggerated for clarity.

[0014] When two elements A and B are combined using "or," this is to be understood as disclosing all possible combinations, i.e., only A, only B, and both A and B, unless explicitly defined otherwise in the individual case. Alternative wording for the same combinations may be "at least one of A and B" or "A and / or B." This applies equivalently to combinations of more than two elements.

[0015] If a singular form is used, such as "a," "an," and "the," and the use of only a single element is neither explicitly nor implicitly defined as mandatory, further examples may also use multiple elements to implement the same function. If a function is described below as being implemented using multiple elements, further examples may implement the same function using a single element or a single processing entity.It is further understood that the terms "comprises", "comprising", "has" and / or "having" when used herein describe the presence of the specified features, integers, steps, operations, processes, elements, components and / or a group thereof, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, processes, elements, components and / or a group thereof.

[0016] Fig. Figure 1 schematically shows a retrofittable tracking device 100 for a land vehicle. The tracking device 100 is a device that enables the tracking of the tracking device 100 and, if the tracking device 100 is mounted on the land vehicle, thus also the land vehicle.

[0017] A land vehicle is generally a vehicle designed to be moved exclusively or predominantly on land. The land vehicle is designed for the movement of people and / or goods. The land vehicle can be either a multi-track or a single-track vehicle. The land vehicle comprises a chassis and a plurality of wheels that are movably mounted on the chassis and enable movement of the land vehicle relative to a surface of the land vehicle. In particular, the land vehicle can be a bicycle or an electric scooter (also referred to as an "electric scooter" or "e-scooter"). The bicycle can be either a bicycle powered exclusively by the muscle power of a person riding on it or an electric bicycle (also referred to as a "pedelec" or "e-bike") with an electric drive.The bicycle can be a bicycle designed for transporting people or a cargo bike for transporting goods. The bicycle can be a single-track bicycle or a multi-track bicycle, such as a three-wheeled recumbent bicycle or a pedicab.

[0018] The term "retrofittable" is to be understood as meaning that the tracking device 100 can be added or supplemented to a land vehicle that was not originally equipped with the tracking device 100. The retrofittable tracking device 100 therefore comprises a fastening means (fastening element, fastening structure) 110 for fastening the retrofittable tracking device 100 to the land vehicle. The fastening means can be designed in a variety of ways and is Fig. 1 is therefore only symbolically represented by the box 110. For example, the fastening means 110 can be a means (element, structure) that can engage or be fastened to a counterpart of the land vehicle. Likewise, the fastening means 110 can be, for example, belts, straps, belt systems, buckles or combinations thereof. In connection with Fig. 2, an example is also described later in the description in which a housing of the retrofittable locating device 100 serves as a fastening means.

[0019] The retrofittable tracking device 100 further includes a water sensor 120 configured to detect contact with water or the presence of water. The water sensor 120 may utilize one or more technologies for detecting contact with water or the presence of water. For example, the water sensor may comprise a material capable of absorbing and conducting moisture. This material is sensitive to changes in humidity in its environment. The material may, for example, be one or more of the following materials: conductive polymers, ceramics, textile fibers or fabrics, metal-coated substrates, graphene, and hydrogel. Furthermore, the water sensor 120 may include one or more electrical circuits to measure the electrical resistance of the material and to detect contact with water or the presence of water based on the measured electrical resistance.For example, the measured electrical resistance can be compared to one or more threshold values ​​to detect contact with water or the presence of water, since the material may, for example, have a higher electrical resistance when dry than when wet or moist, or vice versa. In alternative examples, the water sensor 120 can, for example, comprise a capacitor and one or more electrical circuits for measuring the capacitance of the capacitor. The capacitance of a capacitor changes depending on the humidity in its environment. For example, the measured capacitance can be compared to one or more threshold values ​​to detect contact with water or the presence of water.Likewise, in some examples, the water sensor 120 may include one or more materials that chemically react upon contact with water, as well as means that can detect the chemical reaction of the one or more materials with water and accordingly detect contact with water or the presence of water. Regardless of the technology used to detect contact with water or the presence of water, the water sensor 120 outputs, for example, a signal or data 121 indicating contact with water or the presence of water when the water sensor 120 detects contact with water or the presence of water.

[0020] The retrofittable locating device 100 further includes a control circuit 130. The control circuit 130 is coupled to the water sensor 120. For example, the control circuit 130 may be formed by or include a processor, a computer processor (CPU = Central Processing Unit), a microcontroller, an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC = Application-Specific Integrated Circuit), an integrated circuit (IC = Integrated Circuit), a system on a chip (SoC = System on a Chip), a programmable logic element, or a field-programmable gate array (FPGA = Field Programmable Gate Array) with a microprocessor running software for controlling one or more components of the retrofittable locating device 100 according to the principles described herein. Furthermore, the control circuit 130 may include or be coupled to one or more memories.

[0021] The retrofittable locating device 100 further comprises at least one ultrasonic transducer 140 and / or at least one light source 150. The at least one ultrasonic transducer 140 is configured to selectively or controllably convert electrical energy into ultrasonic waves or an ultrasonic signal and then radiate it into the environment. The ultrasonic waves or the ultrasonic signal can, for example, have a frequency of 20 kHz or more and 1 GHz or less. For example, the at least one ultrasonic transducer 140 can generate the ultrasonic waves or the ultrasonic signal using the piezoelectric effect or electromagnetic mechanisms. The at least one ultrasonic transducer 140 can, for example, be a micromechanical ultrasonic transducer such as a piezoelectric micromachined ultrasonic transducer (PMUT) or a capacitive micromechanical ultrasonic transducer (PMUT).Capacitive Micromachined Ultrasonic Transducer (CMUT). The at least one ultrasonic transducer 140 can be made of different materials such as semiconductor material, plastics or combinations thereof. The at least one light source 150 is configured to emit light or a light signal selectively or in a controlled manner. The light can be light in the visible spectrum as well as light in the non-visible spectrum (e.g. infrared light). The light source 150 can be designed in a variety of ways. For example, the light source 150 can be one or more of the following or include these: an incandescent lamp, a light-emitting diode (LED) and a laser.

[0022] The control circuit 130 is configured to control the at least one ultrasonic transducer 140 to output an ultrasonic signal 141 when the water sensor 120 detects contact with water. Alternatively or additionally, the control circuit 130 is configured to control the at least one light source 150 to output a light signal 151 when the water sensor 120 detects contact with water or the presence of water. For example, the control circuit 130 can be configured to control the at least one ultrasonic transducer 140 and / or the at least one light source 150 as described above if the signal or the data 121 which the control circuit 130 receives from the water sensor 120 indicates contact with water or the presence of water. If the water sensor 120 detects no contact with water ordoes not detect the presence of water, the control circuit 130 is configured accordingly to control the at least one ultrasonic transducer 140 not to output an ultrasonic signal, or to control the at least one light source 150 not to output a light signal. For example, the control circuit 130 can be configured to control the at least one ultrasonic transducer 140 and / or the at least one light source 150 as described above if the signal or the data 121 does not indicate contact with water or does not indicate the presence of water. To control the at least one ultrasonic transducer 140 or the at least one light source 150, the control circuit can, for example, output a corresponding control signal or control data 131, 132 to the respective entity. The control circuit 130 thus functions like a switch which, upon contact with water orthe presence of water puts at least one ultrasonic transducer 140 and / or at least one light source 150 into operation.

[0023] The ultrasonic signal 141 and / or light signal 151 emitted upon contact with water or the presence of water can be detected on the water surface if the retrofittable tracking device 100 is located in a body of water. In the present disclosure, a body of water is understood to mean any standing or flowing body of water, for example lakes, rivers, streams, ponds, seas, or oceans. Accordingly, the retrofittable tracking device 100 and, if the retrofittable tracking device 100 is mounted on the land vehicle, thus also the land vehicle (e.g., from land) can be located. An owner or rental company can thus find or recover a land vehicle thrown into a body of water. Likewise, battery-operated land vehicles can be located and recovered in bodies of water, thus reducing the risk of chemical substances from the battery leaking into the body of water.The fastening means 110 allows the retrofittable tracking device 100 to be attached to the land vehicle as required.

[0024] According to examples, the retrofittable locating device 100 comprises an energy storage device 160 configured to supply electrical energy to electrical components of the retrofittable locating device 100, such as the water sensor 120, the control circuit 130, the at least one ultrasonic transducer 140, and / or the at least one light source 150. The energy storage device 160 is electrically coupled to the electrical components of the retrofittable locating device 100. The energy storage device 160 can be, for example, a battery or an accumulator.

[0025] The retrofittable tracking device 100 is energy-efficient because the control circuit 130 triggers the output of the ultrasonic signal 141 and / or light signal 151 only upon contact with water or the presence of water. Accordingly, the operating time of the energy storage device 160 (i.e., the time until the energy storage device 160 is empty or needs to be recharged) can be maximized. A land vehicle thrown into a body of water can therefore be located and recovered using the output ultrasonic signal 141 and / or light signal 151, even after a prolonged period of time in the body of water.

[0026] The radiation characteristics of the at least one ultrasonic transducer 140 can be varied. For example, the at least one ultrasonic transducer 140 can be configured to emit the ultrasonic signal 141 omnidirectionally. In other words, the ultrasonic transducer 140 can emit the ultrasonic signal 141 in all spatial directions. The intensity (signal strength) of the ultrasonic signal 141 can be uniform across all spatial directions or it can vary. If the land vehicle is thrown into a body of water, the position of the land vehicle is often uncertain. In other words, the land vehicle can be in a variety of different orientations in the body of water. Since the ultrasonic signal 141 is emitted in all spatial directions with the omnidirectional output of the ultrasonic signal 141, a portion of the ultrasonic signal 141 is always also emitted toward the water surface of the body of water, so that the land vehicle can be located above it.Regardless of the position of the land vehicle, the ultrasonic signal 141 can therefore be detected or located at least at the water surface.

[0027] In alternative embodiments, the at least one ultrasonic transducer 140 can also be configured to emit the ultrasonic signal 141 directed in at least one spatial direction. The directed emission of the ultrasonic signal 141 in one or more spatial directions can be advantageous in that, compared to omnidirectional emission, more ultrasonic energy is emitted in one or more spatial directions with the same absolute energy input. Accordingly, the land vehicle can also be located from greater distances from one or more spatial directions. The directed emission of the ultrasonic signal 141 in one or more spatial directions can be sufficient for some land vehicles if, for example, they remain in one or more known positions due to their geometric or spatial structure and / or their mass distribution in the body of water. For a bicycle, for example,It can be assumed that the bicycle will almost always land sideways on the bottom of the water. Accordingly, the radiation of the ultrasonic signal 141 to both sides of the bicycle is sufficient, so that the ultrasonic signal 141 is radiated from the upper side of the bicycle toward the water surface, where it can be detected or located.

[0028] According to examples, transmission patterns can be used by the retrofittable tracking device 100 to enable individualization of the land vehicle or type of land vehicle. Accordingly, the control circuit 130 can be configured to control the at least one ultrasonic transducer 140 to output the ultrasonic signal 141 according to a (e.g., programmed) transmission pattern for identifying the land vehicle. Alternatively or additionally, the control circuit 130 can be configured to control the at least one light source 150 to output the light signal 151 according to the (e.g., programmed) transmission pattern for identifying the land vehicle. The transmission pattern indicates the temporal profile of the ultrasonic signal 141 or the light signal 151. In other words, the transmission pattern indicates the modulation of the ultrasonic signal 141 or the light signal 151 over time.For example, respective pulse sequences for the ultrasonic signal 141 and / or light signal 151 can be used by / for different lenders of a land vehicle type (e.g. different sequences of ultrasonic pulses and / or different flashing patterns), so that the transmission pattern makes it possible to identify the lender to which land vehicle located in the body of water or the land vehicle recovered from the body of water belongs. Accordingly, the return of the land vehicle to the respective lender can be made easier. Conversely, a lender can, for example, specifically search a body of water for its land vehicle. If ultrasonic signals and / or light signals received from the body of water are coded with the transmission pattern of the lender, it can arrange for the land vehicle to be recovered from the body of water. If the ultrasonic signals and / or light signals are not coded with the transmission pattern of the lender, the lender can refrain from recovering the land vehicle and, if necessary,notify one or more lenders to which the received transmission patterns belong of the location.

[0029] The transmission pattern can be programmed as described above. In other words, the transmission pattern is specified for the control circuit 130 via appropriate programming. For example, the transmission pattern can be loaded into a memory of the control circuit 130 or into a memory of the retrofittable locating device 100 coupled to the control circuit 130. Likewise, the transmission pattern can be input or introduced, for example, via an interface of the retrofittable locating device 100 to external devices such as a laptop or computer.

[0030] To avoid the unnecessary transmission of the ultrasonic signal 141 and / or light signal 151, the control circuit 130 can be configured to control the at least one ultrasonic transducer 140 to output the ultrasonic signal 141 only when the water sensor 120 detects contact with water or the presence of water for more than a predetermined period of time (e.g., more than one, ten, or 30 minutes or more than one, two, six, or twelve hours). Alternatively or additionally, the control circuit 130 can be configured to control the at least one light source 150 to output the light signal 151 only when the water sensor 120 detects contact with water or the presence of water for more than the predetermined period of time. In this way, false alarms in the event of, for example, accidental contact of the land vehicle with water (e.g., an electric scooter accidentally falls into a pool of water) can be avoided, and the energy storage device 160 can be protected.

[0031] The water sensor 120, the control circuit 130, and the at least one ultrasonic transducer 140 and / or the at least one light source 150 are arranged, along with the other components of the retrofittable locating device 100 (such as the energy storage device 160), in a housing 170 of the retrofittable locating device 100. The fastening means 110 is particularly configured to attach the housing 170 to the land vehicle.

[0032] An exemplary design of the housing for fastening or attachment to a land vehicle is shown in Fig. 2 shown. Fig. Figure 2 schematically shows a retrofittable locating device 200. The retrofittable locating device 200 is designed like the previously described retrofittable locating device 100, with the exception of the details of the housing construction described below. The following description of the retrofittable locating device 200 is therefore essentially limited to its housing construction. Fig. 2, two ultrasonic transducers 140-1 and 140-2 are shown. According to examples, the retrofittable locating device 200 may alternatively or additionally include one or more light sources. Likewise, more or fewer ultrasonic transducers may be used. The water sensor 120 and the control circuit 130 are shown in the example of Fig. 2 are applied to a common carrier or substrate (e.g., a printed circuit board or PCB). However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto.

[0033] The Fig. The housing 170, shown semi-transparent in Figure 2, can be separated non-destructively into at least two housing parts. For example, the at least two housing parts can have one or more snap closures by means of which they can be connected to or separated from one another non-destructively. In alternative examples, the at least two housing parts can be screwed together.

[0034] The at least two housing parts of the housing 170 form the above in connection with Fig. 1 described fastening means of the retrofittable locating device. In the assembled state, the at least two housing parts of the housing 170 form a substantially cylindrical recess 175 in the center of the housing 170, extending along a spatial direction. In the separated state, the portion of the recess 175 belonging to the respective housing part is freely accessible. In this way, the two housing parts of the housing 170 can be placed against a component of the land vehicle, such as a rod or a spar, and brought into contact with one another, so that the recess 175 encloses the component in the assembled state of the housing 170 in order to hold the retrofittable locating device 200 on the component.In other words: The at least two housing parts of the housing 170 form the fastening means and are shaped such that they can be applied to a component of the land vehicle in the separated state and enclose the component in the assembled state in order to hold the retrofittable locating device on the component.

[0035] Fig. 3 shows the retrofittable tracking device 200 in the attached state to a handlebar 310 of an electric scooter 300. The recess 175 in the housing 170 encloses the handlebar 310 of the electric scooter 300 in the assembled state of the housing 170 and holds the retrofittable tracking device 200 on the handlebar 310. The other components of the electric scooter 300 such as wheels, footboard or electric motor are in Fig. 3 not shown for reasons of clarity.

[0036] The electric scooter 300 is chosen as an example. Similarly, the retrofittable tracking device 200 can be attached to a pole or bar of any land vehicle, such as a bicycle or scooter. Fig. 3 thus shows an exemplary system comprising a retrofittable tracking device according to the present disclosure and a land vehicle, wherein the retrofittable tracking device is attached to a component of the land vehicle by means of its fastening means.

[0037] However, this description is not limited to retrofittable tracking devices. Rather, the functionality described above can also be integrated into a land vehicle. Fig. Figure 4 shows a bicycle 400 with integrated tracking functionality. The bicycle 400 includes a chassis or frame 410. Two wheels 420 and 430 are movably mounted on the chassis or frame 410 and enable movement of the bicycle 400 relative to the ground.

[0038] Furthermore, the bicycle 400 comprises the water sensor 120, the control circuit 130, and the at least one ultrasonic transducer 140 and / or the at least one light source 150, as described above for the retrofittable tracking device. The energy storage device 160 for supplying the water sensor 120, the control circuit 130, the at least one ultrasonic transducer 140 and / or the at least one light source 150 can be a separate energy storage device or an energy storage device already present in the bicycle 400. If the bicycle 400 is an electric bicycle, the energy storage device 160 can, for example, be the battery or accumulator of the electric bicycle for supplying the electric motor to drive the electric bicycle.

[0039] The ultrasonic signal 141 and / or light signal 151 emitted upon contact with water or the presence of water can be detected on the water surface when the bicycle 400 is in a body of water. Accordingly, the bicycle 400 can be located from land and, if necessary, recovered. If the bicycle 400 is an electric bicycle, the detectability can reduce the risk of chemical substances from the battery or accumulator escaping into the body of water. Since the control circuit 130 triggers the output of the ultrasonic signal 141 and / or light signal 151 only upon contact with water or the presence of water, the bicycle 400 is also energy-efficient. Accordingly, the operating time of the energy storage device 160 can be maximized. The bicycle 400 can therefore be located and recovered based on the emitted ultrasonic signal 141 and / or light signal 151, even after a longer period of time in the body of water.

[0040] Further details and aspects of the location functionality of the bicycle 400 are described in more detail above (e.g. in connection with Fig. 1 to Fig. 3). The bicycle 400 may therefore additionally include one or more of the aspects described above.

[0041] Bicycle 400 is chosen as an example. Similarly, tracking functionality can be integrated into any land vehicle, such as an electric scooter or a kick scooter.

[0042] In order to further shed light on the location of land vehicles according to the present disclosure, the following will be described with reference to Fig. 5 describes in more detail a locating method 500 for a land vehicle. The locating method 500 includes detecting 502, by a water sensor of the land vehicle, whether the land vehicle has contact with water. Furthermore, the locating method 500 includes transmitting 504 an ultrasonic signal for locating the land vehicle using an ultrasonic transducer of the land vehicle and / or a light signal for locating the land vehicle using a light source of the land vehicle if the water sensor detects contact with water.

[0043] As previously described, the ultrasonic signal and / or light signal emitted upon contact with water can be detected on the water surface when the land vehicle is in a body of water. This allows the land vehicle to be located and, if necessary, recovered. Since the ultrasonic signal and / or light signal are only emitted upon contact with water, the detection method is also energy-efficient. Battery-powered land vehicles can also be located and recovered in bodies of water, thus reducing the risk of chemical substances from the battery leaking into the water.

[0044] Further details and aspects of the method 500 are described in more detail above (e.g. in connection with Fig. 1 to Fig. 4). The method 500 may therefore additionally include one or more of the aspects described above.

[0045] In the following, with reference to Fig.6 further describes a method 600 for locating a land vehicle according to the present disclosure in a body of water. The method 600 comprises checking 602 whether an ultrasonic signal and / or a light signal is being emitted (sent out, sent out) below a water surface of the body of water. For this purpose, the water surface can be searched for the ultrasonic signal and / or the light signal, for example, using an ultrasonic receiver and / or a light detector or light sensor. Furthermore, the method 600 comprises determining 604 that the land vehicle is located in the body of water if an ultrasonic signal and / or a light signal is emitted below the water surface of the body of water.

[0046] The ultrasonic signal and / or light signal emitted by the land vehicle or the retrofittable tracking device can be detected according to method 600. Accordingly, the method can determine that the land vehicle is located in the body of water being examined.

[0047] Optionally, the method 600 may further comprise determining 606 a position of the land vehicle in the body of water based on the ultrasonic signal and / or the light signal. If the light signal is recognized or detected by a light detector or light sensor, the position of the light detector or light sensor can be determined as the position of the land vehicle. If the ultrasonic signal is recognized or detected by an ultrasonic receiver, the position of the ultrasonic receiver can be determined as the position of the land vehicle. For this purpose, the light detector or light sensor or the ultrasonic receiver can be coupled, for example, to a global navigation satellite system such as GPS in order to determine the position of the light detector or light sensor or the ultrasonic receiver. Alternatively or additionally, determining 606 the position of the land vehicle can comprise measuring the ultrasonic signal at various positions (e.g.by means of one or more ultrasonic receivers) and determining the position of the land vehicle based on measured values ​​of the ultrasonic signal at the various positions. The position of the land vehicle based on the measured values ​​of the ultrasonic signal at the various positions can be determined, for example, by means of multilateration (in particular triangulation). In this embodiment, too, the ultrasonic receiver can be coupled, for example, to a global navigation satellite system such as GPS in order to determine the positions of the ultrasonic receiver during the measurements and, based on this, to determine the position of the land vehicle from the measured values ​​of the ultrasonic signal at the various positions.

[0048] Further optionally, method 600 may include identifying 608 the land vehicle based on a transmission pattern of the ultrasonic signal and / or light signal. As described above, individualized transmission patterns can be used to individualize land vehicles or the type of land vehicle. The ultrasonic signal and / or light signal can, for example, be demodulated to determine the transmission pattern. The determined transmission pattern can, for example, be compared or aligned with known transmission patterns to identify the land vehicle.

[0049] The method 600 can be carried out by various systems or devices. A system or device for locating land vehicles that carries out the method 600 can, for example, comprise an ultrasonic receiver or an acoustic microphone and / or a light detector or light sensor for measuring the ultrasonic signal and / or the light signal, as well as a circuit for evaluating the measurement data according to the aspects described above. Optionally, a distance and direction measurement can be carried out according to the above description, thus providing navigation data for recovering the land vehicle. The system or device can comprise further circuits, such as a demodulator for determining the transmission pattern.

[0050] The method 600 can, for example, be carried out by a watercraft. The watercraft is generally a vehicle that is designed to be moved exclusively or predominantly on water. The watercraft can, in particular, be a boat, a ship, or a raft. The watercraft can, for example, be a manually controlled watercraft (i.e., by a human operator). Alternatively, the watercraft can be a watercraft that moves autonomously on the body of water, i.e., a watercraft that moves independently and without direct human control or remote control. The use of an autonomously moving watercraft can enable automated detection of land vehicles. Optionally, the autonomously moving watercraft can be equipped with further means for automated recovery of the land vehicle (e.g., a crane, a grab, and / or a storage platform).

[0051] In alternative examples, method 600 can be performed, for example, by a drone (i.e., an unmanned aerial vehicle). The drone can move autonomously in the airspace above the body of water or be moved by a human operator in the airspace above the body of water. Upon locating the land vehicle, the drone can, for example, transmit the determined position of the land vehicle to a recovery team or system so that it can recover the land vehicle from the body of water.

[0052] The proposed technology for tracking land vehicles is robust and easy to integrate, especially easy to retrofit. Examples show that it can enable individualized tracking of land vehicles in water.

[0053] The aspects and features described in connection with a particular one of the previous examples may also be combined with one or more of the further examples to replace an identical or similar feature of that further example or to additionally introduce the feature into the further example.

[0054] It is further understood that the disclosure of multiple steps, processes, operations, or functions disclosed in the specification or claims should not be construed as necessarily being in the described order, unless explicitly stated in the individual case or technically required. Therefore, the foregoing description does not limit the performance of multiple steps or functions to any particular order. Furthermore, in further examples, a single step, function, process, or operation may include and / or be broken down into multiple sub-steps, functions, processes, or operations.

[0055] If some aspects in the preceding sections were described in connection with a device or system, these aspects are also to be understood as a description of the corresponding method. For example, a block, a device, or a functional aspect of the device or system can correspond to a feature, such as a method step, of the corresponding method. Accordingly, aspects described in connection with a method are also to be understood as a description of a corresponding block, a corresponding element, a property, or a functional feature of a corresponding device or system.

[0056] The following claims are hereby incorporated into the Detailed Description, each claim being understood to stand on its own as a separate example. It should also be noted that although a dependent claim in the claims refers to a particular combination with one or more other claims, other examples may include a combination of the dependent claim with the subject matter of any other dependent or independent claim. Such combinations are hereby explicitly contemplated unless it is specifically stated that a particular combination is not intended. Furthermore, features of a claim for any other independent claim are also intended to be included, even if that claim is not directly defined as dependent on that other independent claim.

Claims

[1] Retrofittable tracking device (100, 200) for a land vehicle, comprising: a fastening means (110) for fastening the retrofittable tracking device (100, 200) to the land vehicle; a water sensor (120) configured to detect contact with water; and a control circuit (130) which is arranged: to control at least one ultrasonic transducer (140) of the retrofittable locating device (100, 200) to output an ultrasonic signal (141) when the water sensor detects contact with water; and / or to control at least one light source (150) of the retrofittable locating device (100, 200) to emit a light signal (151) when the water sensor (120) detects contact with water. [2] Retrofittable locating device (100, 200) according to claim 1, further comprising an energy storage device (160) which is configured to supply electrical components of the retrofittable locating device (100, 200), in particular one or more of the water sensor (120), the control circuit (130), the at least one ultrasonic transducer (140) and the at least one light source (150) with electrical energy. [3] Retrofittable locating device (100, 200) according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the at least one ultrasonic transducer (140) is configured to output the ultrasonic signal (141) omnidirectionally. [4] Retrofittable locating device (100, 200) according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the at least one ultrasonic transducer (140) is configured to output the ultrasonic signal (141) directed in at least one spatial direction. [5] Retrofittable locating device (100, 200) according to one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the control circuit (130) is configured to control the at least one ultrasonic transducer (140) to output the ultrasonic signal (141) according to a programmed transmission pattern for identifying the land vehicle. [6] Retrofittable locating device (100, 200) according to one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the control circuit (130) is configured to control the at least one light source (150) to output the light signal (151) according to a programmed transmission pattern for identifying the land vehicle. [7] Retrofittable locating device (100, 200) according to one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the control circuit (130) is arranged: to control the at least one ultrasonic transducer (140) to output the ultrasonic signal (141) only when the water sensor (120) detects contact with water for more than a predetermined period of time; and / or to control the at least one light source (150) to output the light signal (151) only when the water sensor (120) detects contact with water for more than the predetermined period of time. [8] Retrofittable locating device (100, 200) according to one of claims 1 to 7, further comprising a housing (170) in which the water sensor (120), the control circuit (130) and the at least one of the at least one ultrasonic transducer (140) and the at least one light source (150) are arranged. [9] Retrofittable locating device (100, 200) according to claim 8, wherein the housing (170) is non-destructively separable into at least two housing parts, wherein the at least two housing parts form the fastening means (110) and are shaped such that they can be applied to a component of the land vehicle in the separated state and enclose the component in the assembled state in order to hold the retrofittable locating device (100, 200) on the component. [10] Retrofittable tracking device (100, 200) according to claim 8, wherein the fastening means (110) is arranged to fasten the housing (170) to the land vehicle. [11] System comprising: a retrofittable locating device (100, 200) according to one of claims 1 to 10; and a land vehicle (300) comprising a chassis and a plurality of wheels movably mounted on the chassis and enabling movement of the land vehicle relative to a ground surface of the land vehicle, wherein the retrofittable locating device (100, 200) is fastened to a component (310) of the land vehicle (300) by means of its fastening means. [12] Land vehicle (400), comprising: a chassis (410); a plurality of wheels (420, 430) movably mounted on the chassis (410) and enabling movement of the land vehicle relative to a ground surface of the land vehicle; a water sensor (120) configured to detect contact with water; and a control circuit (130) which is arranged: to control an ultrasonic transducer (140) of the land vehicle to output an ultrasonic signal (141) when the water sensor (120) detects contact with water; and / or to control a light source (150) of the land vehicle, to emit a light signal (151) when the water sensor (120) detects contact with water. [13] The system of claim 11 or the land vehicle (400) of claim 12, wherein the land vehicle is a single-track vehicle. [14] System according to one of claims 11 and 13 or land vehicle (400) according to one of claims 12 and 13, wherein the land vehicle is a bicycle or an electric scooter. [15] A location method (500) for a land vehicle, comprising: Detecting (502) by a water sensor of the land vehicle whether the land vehicle has contact with water; and Emitting (504) an ultrasonic signal for locating the land vehicle by means of an ultrasonic transducer of the land vehicle and / or a light signal for locating the land vehicle by means of a light source of the land vehicle if the water sensor detects contact with water. [16] A method (600) for locating a land vehicle in a body of water, comprising: Checking (602) whether an ultrasonic signal and / or a light signal is emitted below a water surface of the body of water; and Determining (604) that the land vehicle is located in the body of water if an ultrasonic signal and / or a light signal is emitted below the water surface of the body of water. [17] The method (600) of claim 16, further comprising: Determining (606) a position of the land vehicle in the body of water based on the ultrasonic signal and / or the light signal. [18] The method (600) of claim 17, wherein determining a position of the land vehicle comprises: Measuring the ultrasonic signal at different positions; and Determine the position of the land vehicle based on measurements of the ultrasonic signal at the different positions. [19] Method (600) according to one of claims 16 to 18, further comprising: Identifying (608) the land vehicle based on a transmission pattern of the ultrasonic signal and / or light signal. [20] Method (600) according to any one of claims 16 to 19, wherein the method is carried out by a watercraft or a drone moving autonomously on the body of water.

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