Motor vehicle and method for triggering an eCall before an accident from a motor vehicle

Abstract

The invention relates to a motor vehicle (10) and a method for triggering an eCall prior to an accident from a motor vehicle (10). The method comprises the following steps: receiving (S10) vehicle-external sensor data by a communication device (24) of the motor vehicle (10), wherein the vehicle-external sensor data is transmitted via V2X communication from vehicle-external sensor devices (20) in an environment of the motor vehicle (10) and comprises traffic situation data of the environment of the motor vehicle (10); determining (S12) an accident probability of the motor vehicle (10) with an object (12) based on the received traffic situation data by a connectivity device (16) of the motor vehicle (10); and triggering (S14) the eCall by the connectivity device (16) if the accident probability is above an accident probability threshold.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a method for triggering an eCall before an accident from a motor vehicle and to a motor vehicle which is designed to carry out the method.

[0002] Motor vehicles are typically equipped with an automatic emergency call function, a so-called emergency call (eCall), which is automatically triggered in the event of an accident. However, in some situations, it is not possible to trigger the automatic emergency call in time before a connection between a vehicle's collision detection system and a connectivity device that triggers the eCall is lost. For example, a vehicle bus that supplies the trigger and sensor data for detecting the accident and / or a pulse width modulation line from the airbag may be interrupted due to the severity of the impact.

[0003] This situation can occur, for example, if a motor vehicle collides with a truck and the motor vehicle comes under the truck's trailer. Data connections, such as the vehicle bus and / or pulse width modulation line, are initially destroyed before a collision detection device, such as an impact sensor, detects an impact. This makes it more difficult to detect the impact, which may prevent the eCall from being triggered.

[0004] From DE 10 2017 218 699 A1 a method is known for informing an emergency call receiving center about an emergency which is detected by a mobile device, wherein at least one emergency call trigger signal is detected by a control device of the device and, depending on the respectively detected emergency call trigger signal, a predetermined contacting measure for informing the emergency call receiving center is started, wherein the contacting measure comprises that at least one predetermined communication connection to the emergency call receiving center is established via at least one communication network.Furthermore, it is provided that, depending on the detection of the at least one emergency call trigger signal, trigger data which signal at least one detection of the emergency call trigger signal and an identification and / or position of the device are additionally transmitted via the at least one communication network to a stationary server device different from the emergency call receiving point in order to trigger a predetermined further contacting measure implemented in the server device.

[0005] A vehicle emergency notification device for a vehicle is known from DE 11 2021 0030 75 T5. The vehicle emergency notification device includes a wireless communication unit that wirelessly transmits an emergency notification signal to the outside of the vehicle, and a rollover prediction unit that detects a rollover-related quantity, which is a physical quantity for predicting a rollover of the vehicle, and predicts the rollover of the vehicle based on the detected rollover-related quantity. The wireless communication unit transmits the emergency notification signal in response to the rollover prediction unit predicting the rollover of the vehicle.

[0006] From DE 102 20 566 A1 a method for automatic emergency braking of a vehicle equipped with an automatic emergency braking system is known, wherein an automatic emergency braking is triggered when a collision of the vehicle with an obstacle is unavoidable either due to driving physics or on the part of the driver, the automatic emergency braking system sends an emergency call via a communication system when the emergency braking is triggered or after the impact has occurred.

[0007] The object of the invention is to provide an automatic emergency call or eCall even in the event of accidents in which data connections in the motor vehicle are interrupted.

[0008] This object is achieved by the independent patent claims. Advantageous developments of the invention are disclosed in the dependent patent claims, the following descriptions, and the figures.

[0009] The invention is based on the idea that sensor data from the vehicle's surroundings can be used to determine the vehicle's accident probability. Based on this data, the eCall can be triggered, especially before the accident has occurred and the vehicle's data lines and / or control units may have been damaged by the accident.

[0010] One aspect of the invention relates to a method for triggering an eCall prior to an accident in a motor vehicle. The method comprises the steps of receiving external sensor data by a communication device of the motor vehicle, wherein the external sensor data is transmitted via V2X (vehicle-to-everything) communication or Car2X communication from external sensor devices in an environment of the motor vehicle and comprises traffic situation data of the environment of the motor vehicle. Furthermore, the method comprises determining an accident probability of the motor vehicle with an object based on the received traffic situation data by a connectivity device of the motor vehicle, and triggering the eCall by the connectivity device if the accident probability is above an accident probability threshold.

[0011] In other words, external sensor data, which may originate, for example, from other vehicles and / or infrastructure facilities, is used to determine the motor vehicle's accident probability. In particular, the received external sensor data may include traffic situation data from the motor vehicle's surroundings, which may be evaluated by a connectivity device, which may also be configured to transmit or trigger the eCall, to determine an accident probability, particularly a situation shortly before a potential accident. Thus, if the traffic situation data indicates that an accident is imminent, the eCall can be triggered before data connections, such as a vehicle bus, are interrupted and / or other control units of the motor vehicle, such as the connectivity device itself, are affected by the accident.

[0012] The vehicle-external sensor data can preferably originate from multiple sources, whereby a sensor data fusion can take place in the connectivity device, which can provide information about the traffic situation and thus the accident probability. From this sensor data, which can be stored and / or fused in the connectivity device, for example, an accident probability for the motor vehicle can then be determined. For example, distances to objects in the vicinity of the motor vehicle can be determined and whether it is still possible for the motor vehicle, which is traveling towards one of the objects at a measured speed, to evade the accident. From this, for example, a value for an accident probability can be determined, whereby predetermined events and / or situations can influence or weight the value.The accident probability value can then be compared to a predefined accident probability threshold to determine whether an accident is imminent or not. For example, the accident probability threshold can divide the accident probability into two ranges: one with a low accident probability and one with a high accident probability. The accident probability threshold can be specified depending on the desired sensitivity and / or specificity. Preferably, the accident probability threshold can be set to a high probability value, so that, for example, an accident is 100%, 95%, or 90% likely.

[0013] The sensor data can, for example, be data from imaging sensors in the surroundings of the motor vehicle, from which the motor vehicle can be recognized, for example, using image recognition algorithms, in order to determine the traffic situation of the motor vehicle. In particular, a speed, acceleration, direction of travel, and / or distances of the motor vehicle to objects in the surroundings of the motor vehicle can be determined from this. This means that, for example, a distance and a differential speed of the motor vehicle to the object can be detected in the traffic situation data. The probability of an accident can be classified as high if the distance is below a predetermined distance threshold and the differential speed is above a speed threshold.

[0014] The communication device and the connectivity device can be present as a unit in the motor vehicle or can be separate devices. Preferably, the connectivity device can further comprise a computing unit that can evaluate the received sensor data to determine the probability of an accident.

[0015] The invention provides the advantage that an eCall can be triggered before a possible accident has occurred, which also avoids the problem that the triggering of the eCall is restricted due to possible damage to data connections and / or control units of the motor vehicle.

[0016] The invention also includes embodiments which result in further advantages.

[0017] One embodiment provides for additional driving data of the motor vehicle to be determined by an on-board sensor device, with the accident probability being determined by merging the driving data with the vehicle-external sensor data. This means that, in addition to third-party sensor data, the driving data of the motor vehicle shortly before an accident can also be taken into account to determine the accident probability. This can further increase the accuracy of determining the accident probability.

[0018] In particular, it is provided that the traffic situation data and / or the driving data include a speed, an acceleration, a position, in particular a GNSS position, and / or a direction of travel of the motor vehicle. This means that these movement parameters of the motor vehicle can be determined at least externally, preferably additionally supplemented by the sensor signals of the motor vehicle itself.

[0019] Furthermore, it can be provided that the traffic situation data include a speed, acceleration, a position, in particular a GNSS position, and / or direction of movement of the object. This means that in addition to the movement parameters of the motor vehicle, the movement parameters of the object, which can in particular be another road user, can also be determined. Thus, the accident probability for a collision between the motor vehicle and the object can be determined by comparing movement trajectories.

[0020] A further embodiment provides for the use of infrastructure data from traffic lights, road signs, construction sites, tunnels, and / or level crossings in determining the accident probability. Traffic lights can, for example, be traffic lights at intersections and / or for rail vehicles, whereby this infrastructure data can be used to weight the accident probability. For example, a traffic light failure can increase the accident probability if the motor vehicle is approaching a corresponding intersection at high speed, or an imminent change to a red traffic light can increase the accident probability of a rear-end collision. Furthermore, traffic signs, construction sites, tunnels, level crossings, and / or other infrastructure objects can provide infrastructure data that can be used to determine the accident probability.This has the advantage of further increasing the accuracy of determining accident probability.

[0021] A further embodiment provides that the object is another motor vehicle, with the sensor data being transmitted by the other motor vehicle. In this case, for example, the sensor data from driver assistance systems and / or occupant protection systems, in particular a seat belt tensioner, automatic hazard warning light activation, and / or a rear-end collision avoidance system of the other vehicle, can be transmitted, from which the motor vehicle can determine the probability of an accident. This means that the sensor data can originate from the vehicle with which a potential collision is imminent. Alternatively or additionally, the sensor data can also originate from an uninvolved third road user or infrastructure.

[0022] Another embodiment provides that the sensor data includes object information from the surroundings perception of another motor vehicle. This means, for example, that the information about the object with which an accident may be imminent can be determined by another motor vehicle. In particular, the surroundings perception of the other motor vehicle, such as a camera, radar, lidar, and / or ultrasound, can determine the object information and transmit it to the motor vehicle.

[0023] A further embodiment provides for the use of maneuver planning data from autonomous vehicles in determining the probability of an accident. In particular, autonomous vehicles can plan their movement trajectories or maneuver coordinates in advance. This means that the expected movements of the autonomous vehicles can be known, from which the connectivity device can estimate the potential for conflict with the autonomous vehicle.

[0024] A further embodiment provides for the use of traffic report data in the vicinity of the motor vehicle in determining the accident probability. The traffic report data may, for example, include information about broken-down vehicles, traffic jams, construction sites, and / or wrong-way drivers in the vicinity of the motor vehicle, whereby these factors can increase the accident probability for the motor vehicle. This can further increase the accuracy of determining the accident probability.

[0025] A further embodiment provides for a status, a type, a classification and / or a size of the motor vehicle and / or the object to be determined, whereby the expected severity of the probable accident is determined depending on this. A status can include, for example, whether the motor vehicle and / or object is driven manually or autonomously. A type of motor vehicle and / or object can include, for example, whether it is an emergency vehicle and / or construction vehicle or another type. The classification can, for example, indicate whether it is a car, truck, bus or a motorcycle. This can then be used to determine the extent of the damage to be expected in the event of an anticipated accident, which can also be communicated when the eCall is transmitted. This can improve planning when alerting emergency vehicles to the accident.

[0026] A further aspect of the invention relates to a motor vehicle comprising at least one communication device and a connectivity device, wherein the communication device is configured to receive vehicle-external sensor data via V2X communication, wherein sensor data comprises traffic situation data of the surroundings of the motor vehicle, wherein the connectivity device is configured to determine an accident probability of the motor vehicle based on the received traffic situation data and to trigger an eCall if the determined accident probability exceeds an accident probability threshold. This results in the same advantages and possible variations as with the method.

[0027] For use cases or application situations that may arise during the method and which are not explicitly described here, it may be provided that, in accordance with the method, an error message and / or a request to enter user feedback is issued and / or a default setting and / or a predetermined initial state is set.

[0028] The invention also includes the control device for the motor vehicle. The control device can have a data processing device or a processor device that is configured to carry out an embodiment of the method according to the invention. For this purpose, the processor device can have at least one microprocessor and / or at least one microcontroller and / or at least one FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array) and / or at least one DSP (Digital Signal Processor). In particular, a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a GPU (Graphical Processing Unit), or an NPU (Neural Processing Unit) can be used as the microprocessor. Furthermore, the processor device can have program code that is configured to carry out the embodiment of the method according to the invention when executed by the processor device. The program code can be stored in a data memory of the processor device.The processor device can be based, for example, on at least one circuit board and / or on at least one SoC (System on Chip).

[0029] The invention also includes further developments of the motor vehicle according to the invention that have features already described in connection with the further developments of the method according to the invention. For this reason, the corresponding further developments of the motor vehicle according to the invention are not described again here.

[0030] The motor vehicle according to the invention is preferably designed as a motor vehicle, in particular as a passenger car or truck, or as a passenger bus or motorcycle.

[0031] As a further solution, the invention also encompasses a computer-readable storage medium comprising program code which, when executed by a computer or computer network, causes the computer to carry out an embodiment of the method according to the invention. The storage medium can be provided at least partially as a non-volatile data memory (e.g. as a flash memory and / or as an SSD - solid state drive) and / or at least partially as a volatile data memory (e.g. as a RAM - random access memory). The storage medium can be arranged in the computer or computer network. However, the storage medium can also be operated on the Internet, for example, as a so-called app store server and / or cloud server. The computer or computer network can provide a processor circuit with, for example, at least one microprocessor.The program code may be provided as binary code and / or as assembly code and / or as source code of a programming language (e.g. C) and / or as a program script (e.g. Python).

[0032] The invention also encompasses combinations of the features of the described embodiments. The invention therefore also encompasses implementations that each comprise a combination of the features of several of the described embodiments, unless the embodiments are described as mutually exclusive.

[0033] Exemplary embodiments of the invention are described below. Shown are: Fig. 1 a motor vehicle in an exemplary situation before an accident; Fig. 2 a schematic process diagram according to an exemplary embodiment.

[0034] The exemplary embodiments explained below are preferred embodiments of the invention. In the exemplary embodiments, the described components of the embodiments each represent individual features of the invention that can be considered independently of one another, each of which also develops the invention independently of one another. Therefore, the disclosure is intended to encompass combinations of the features of the embodiments other than those shown. Furthermore, the described embodiments can also be supplemented by further features of the invention already described.

[0035] In the figures, the same reference symbols designate elements with the same function.

[0036] In Fig. 1 shows an exemplary situation with a motor vehicle 10, which may occur shortly before an accident with an object 12, in particular another motor vehicle.

[0037] Typically, in the event of an accident, a collision detection device 14 or an airbag control unit of the motor vehicle 10 would transmit a signal via a data connection, such as the vehicle bus and / or a pulse width modulation line, to a connectivity device 16 of the motor vehicle 10, wherein the connectivity device 16 can be designed to trigger an automatic emergency call or emergency call (eCall) and to transmit it to an emergency call control center 18.

[0038] However, it is possible that the accident could disrupt the data connection between the collision detection device 14 and the connectivity device 16, resulting in no eCall being generated. To generate an eCall for such situations, the motor vehicle 10 can evaluate sensor data prior to the potential accident, using which the probability of an accident is determined, and the eCall is generated based on this data.

[0039] For this purpose, in particular, vehicle-external sensor data can be determined by a vehicle-external sensor device 20, which is transmitted to the motor vehicle 10 via V2X communication. For example, the vehicle-external sensor device 20 can be arranged in the vehicle 12 of the other party involved in the accident, wherein the sensor data can be sent via a communication device 22 of the vehicle 12 and received via a communication device 24 of the motor vehicle. The sensor device 20 can, for example, have a camera, lidar, radar, and / or ultrasonic sensors to capture traffic situation data in the surrounding area. In particular, a speed, an acceleration, and / or a direction of travel of the motor vehicle 10 and of the vehicle 12 can be transmitted.

[0040] Furthermore, for example, infrastructure data from traffic light systems 26 can be sent to the communication device 24, such as from a traffic light, and / or driving data of the motor vehicle 10 can be taken into account, which are determined by a sensor device 28 of the motor vehicle 10 and can, for example, also include the speed, acceleration and / or direction of travel of the motor vehicle 10.

[0041] For example, if the motor vehicle 10 and the other vehicle 12 are moving toward each other at high speed, it may be determined shortly before the accident that evasive action and / or braking are impossible, resulting in a very high probability of an accident. Consequently, the connectivity device 16 may trigger the eCall shortly before the accident.

[0042] In Fig. 2 shows a schematic process diagram for triggering an eCall before an accident from a motor vehicle 10.

[0043] In a step S10, vehicle-external sensor data can be received by a communication device 24 of the motor vehicle 10, wherein the vehicle-external sensor data are transmitted via V2X communication from vehicle-external sensor devices 20 in an environment of the motor vehicle 10 and include traffic situation data of the environment of the motor vehicle 10. This means that the sensor data describing the traffic situation can originate from external data sources.

[0044] In a step S12, an accident probability of the motor vehicle 10 with an object 12 can be determined based on the received traffic situation data by a connectivity device 16 of the motor vehicle 10. In other words, although the sensor data can originate from external data sources, the evaluation of the sensor data preferably takes place in the motor vehicle 10. The determination of the accident probability can be carried out, for example, using artificial intelligence that is trained using sensor data from accident situations.

[0045] In a step S14, the eCall can be triggered by the connectivity device 16 if the accident probability exceeds an accident probability threshold. Thus, if it is determined that the accident is highly probable or unavoidable, the eCall can be transmitted, preferably before the accident actually occurs.

[0046] Consequently, based on a fusion of external sensor signals, an eCall application can use signal processing methods to estimate the probability and severity of an impending collision.

[0047] Overall, the examples show how an automatic eCall can be provided using environment perception data. 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] DE 10 2017 218 699 A1

[0004] DE 11 2021 0030 75 T5

[0005] DE 102 20 566 A1

[0006]

Claims

[1] Method for triggering an eCall before an accident from a motor vehicle (10), comprising the steps: - receiving (S10) vehicle-external sensor data by a communication device (24) of the motor vehicle (10), wherein the vehicle-external sensor data are transmitted via V2X communication from vehicle-external sensor devices (20) in an environment of the motor vehicle (10) and comprise traffic situation data of the environment of the motor vehicle (10); - determining (S12) an accident probability of the motor vehicle (10) with an object (12) on the basis of the received traffic situation data by a connectivity device (16) of the motor vehicle (10); - triggering (S14) the eCall by the connectivity device (16) if the accident probability is above an accident probability threshold. [2] Method according to claim 1, wherein driving data of the motor vehicle (10) are additionally determined by a vehicle-internal sensor device (28), wherein the accident probability is determined from a sensor data fusion of the driving data and the vehicle-external sensor data. [3] Method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the traffic situation data and / or the driving data comprise a speed, an acceleration, a position, in particular a GNSS position, and / or a direction of travel of the motor vehicle (10). [4] Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the traffic situation data comprise a speed, acceleration, position, in particular a GNSS position, and / or direction of movement of the object (12). [5] Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein infrastructure data from traffic lights (26), traffic signs, construction sites, tunnels and / or level crossings are further used in determining the accident probability. [6] Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the object (12) is another motor vehicle, wherein the sensor data are transmitted by the other motor vehicle. [7] Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the sensor data comprise object information from an environmental perception of another motor vehicle. [8] Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein maneuver planning of autonomous vehicles is further used in determining the probability of an accident. [9] Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein traffic report data in the surroundings of the motor vehicle are further used in determining the probability of an accident. [10] Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a status, a type, a classification and / or a size of the motor vehicle (10) and / or the object (12) is determined, wherein an expected severity of the probable accident is determined as a function thereof. [11] Motor vehicle (10), comprising at least one communication device (24) and a connectivity device (16), wherein the communication device (24) is designed to receive vehicle-external sensor data via V2X communication, wherein the sensor data comprise traffic situation data of the surroundings of the motor vehicle (10), wherein the connectivity device (16) is designed to determine an accident probability of the motor vehicle (10) on the basis of the received traffic situation data and to trigger an eCall if the determined accident probability is above an accident probability threshold.

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