Control unit for a monitoring system of a motor vehicle, monitoring system for a motor vehicle, and method for operating a monitoring system

Abstract

The present invention relates to a control unit (4) for a monitoring system (2) of a motor vehicle, wherein the control unit (4) comprises at least one computing unit (12, 14, 16) for evaluating output signals of at least one sensor (6, 8) of the monitoring system (2) and for actuating an electronic power system (9) of an actuator (10) of the monitoring system (2) by means of actuation signals in a manner which is dependent on these output signals, wherein the control unit (4) comprises three computing units (12, 14, 16) and is designed and configured in such a way that the output signals of the at least one sensor (6, 8) can be evaluated in parallel in all computing units (12, 14, 16) and the electronic power system (9) of the actuator (10) can be actuated by means of actuation signals of each of the computing units (12, 14, 16), and wherein, if at least two actuation signals which correspond to one another of two of the three computing units (12, 14, 16) match, the electronic power system (9) of the actuator (10) can be actuated by means of the actuation signals by at least one computing unit (12, 14; 12, 16; 14, 16) of these two computing units.

Description

[0001] Control device for a control system of a motor vehicle, control system for a motor vehicle and method for operating a control system

[0002] Description

[0003] The present invention relates to a control device for a control system of a motor vehicle of the type mentioned in the preamble of claim 1, a control system for a motor vehicle of the type mentioned in the preamble of claim 7 and a method for operating a control system for a motor vehicle.

[0004] Such control devices for a control system of a motor vehicle, control systems for motor vehicles and methods for their operation are already known from the state of the art in numerous design variants.

[0005] The known control systems for motor vehicles for controlling a function of the motor vehicle are designed such that at least one control unit of the control system has at least one computing unit for evaluating output signals of at least one sensor of the control system and for controlling power electronics of an actuator of the control system by means of control signals depending on these output signals for carrying out this function of the motor vehicle.

[0006] This is where the present invention comes in.

[0007] The present invention is based on the object of improving a control device for a control system of a motor vehicle for controlling a function of the motor vehicle, a control system for a motor vehicle and a method for operating a control system for a motor vehicle.

[0008] This object is achieved by a control unit having the features of claim 1, which is characterized in that the control unit has three computing units, wherein the control unit is designed and configured such that the output signals of the at least one sensor can be evaluated in parallel in all computing units and the power electronics of the actuator can be controlled by means of control signals from each of the computing units, and wherein, if at least two corresponding control signals from two of the three computing units match, the power electronics of the actuator can be controlled by means of the control signals from at least one of these two computing units. Furthermore, this object is achieved by a control system for a motor vehicle having the features of claim 7 and a method for operating a control system for a motor vehicle having the features of claim 11.The subclaims relate to advantageous developments of the invention.

[0009] A key advantage of the invention is, in particular, that a control unit for a control system of a motor vehicle for controlling a function of the motor vehicle, a control system for a motor vehicle, and a method for operating a control system for a motor vehicle are improved. Due to the inventive design of the control unit, the control system, and the method for operating the control system, for example, sufficient redundancy for a so-called X-by-wire system or the like can be implemented in a simple and therefore cost-effective manner. Ensuring sufficient redundancy is particularly important for such systems and motor vehicles equipped therewith because such motor vehicles eliminate the mechanical couplings that exist in conventional motor vehicles and are relevant for redundancy considerations.For example, this is easily understood using the example of the steering of a motor vehicle with a steer-by-wire system, in which a so-called steer-by-wire system is used instead of the known mechanical connection between a steering wheel of the motor vehicle and the wheels to be steered. The aforementioned mechanical connection is omitted. However, the field of application of motor vehicle steering using steer-by-wire systems is mentioned here merely as an example. The invention can also be advantageously used for other functions of motor vehicles. For example, reference is made here to other by-wire systems, which are generally referred to as X-by-wire systems. The basic design of such X-by-wire systems is sufficiently known to those skilled in the art. According to the invention, it is not necessary to provide a plurality of control units in order to achieve, for example, the aforementioned redundancy.

[0010] Instead, it is possible to use a single control unit to perform the respective function of the vehicle. This means that only the number of computing units is tripled; the number of other components of the control unit remains the same.

[0011] In principle, the control system for motor vehicles according to the invention with the control unit according to the invention can be freely selected within wide, suitable limits in terms of type, mode of operation, material, and dimensions. See the multitude of different functions in modern motor vehicles, for example, the above statements on the challenges of X-by-wire systems in general. The same applies to the method according to the invention for operating a control system for a motor vehicle.

[0012] An advantageous development of the control unit according to the invention provides that the control unit is designed and configured such that a first computing unit of the three computing units is functionally connectable to a first voltage source of the control system for supplying the actuator with electrical power for operating the actuator, a second computing unit of the three computing units is functionally connectable to a second voltage source of the control system for supplying the actuator with the electrical power for operating the actuator, and a third computing unit of the three computing units is functionally connectable to the first and / or the second voltage source for supplying the actuator with the electrical power for operating the actuator. This enables operation of the actuator with both a first and / or a second voltage source of the control system.For example, the actuator can have a plurality of electrical coils, with some of the electrical coils being electrically connected to the first voltage source and the remainder to the second voltage source. Accordingly, even if one of the three processing units fails, two paths are always available for supplying power to the actuator.

[0013] A further advantageous development of the control unit according to the invention provides that the control unit has only a single signal interface for all three processing units for the sensor signal-transmitting connection of the three processing units to a bus system of the motor vehicle that is higher-level than the control unit, wherein output signals from at least one of the at least one sensor can be transmitted from this sensor to the processing units by means of the bus system and this signal interface. In this way, the sensor signal-transmitting connection of the three processing units to a bus system of the motor vehicle that is higher-level than the control unit is significantly simplified. For example, output signals from at least one sensor that functionally interacts with a steering wheel of the motor vehicle for detecting a steering movement of the steering wheel can be transmitted to the three processing units by means of the bus system.

[0014] Analogous to the aforementioned development of the control unit according to the invention, another advantageous development of the control unit according to the invention provides that the control unit has only a single signal interface for all three processing units for the sensor signal-transmitting connection of the three processing units to at least one sensor that functionally interacts with the actuator. Output signals from this sensor can be transmitted to the processing units via this signal interface. Accordingly, the signal-transmitting connection of the three processing units to the actuator, namely to the at least one sensor that functionally interacts with the actuator, is also significantly simplified.For example, analogous to the example mentioned above, output signals from at least one inductive and / or at least one magnetic and / or at least one capacitive sensor, which functionally interact with the actuator, can be transmitted to the three computing units using this signal interface. When sensors based on different physical principles are used, i.e., through technological diversity in the sensors used for this purpose, reliability is further improved. Furthermore, to increase availability, analogous to the number of computing units, a number of sensors used for this purpose greater than one per technology used is also conceivable, for example, three inductive sensors and three magnetic sensors.

[0015] A further advantageous development of the control unit according to the invention provides that the control unit has only a single control interface for all three processing units for the control signal-transmitting connection of at least one of the three processing units to the power electronics of the actuator. This control interface preferably transmits control signals to the power electronics of the actuator in such a way that the actuator can be connected to at least one voltage source of the control system by means of these control signals for supplying the actuator with the electrical power for operating the actuator. Analogous to the last two developments of the control unit according to the invention, this also significantly simplifies the control side of the three processing units toward the actuator.

[0016] Accordingly, an advantageous development of the method according to the invention provides that the power electronics of the actuator are controlled by means of control signals in such a way that the actuator is connected by means of these control signals to at least one voltage source of the control system for supplying the actuator with the electrical power for operating the actuator.

[0017] Furthermore, an advantageous development of the control unit according to the invention provides that the control unit is designed as a structural unit, preferably that all of the processing units of the control unit are essentially identical to one another in terms of functionality. In this way, the control unit is very compact and thus easier to handle. The preferred embodiment of this development also has the further advantage that the processing units can, for example, be obtained from different manufacturers. This achieves additional diversification in the processing units, which can improve the functional reliability of the control unit. This is because the processing units are essentially identical in terms of their structure, but can differ from manufacturer to manufacturer.Accordingly, a failure of two computing units from different manufacturers due to the same error is practically very unlikely.

[0018] As already explained above, the control system according to the invention can be freely selected within wide suitable limits.

[0019] An advantageous development of the control system according to the invention provides that the control unit is designed as a single control unit. This significantly simplifies the control system according to the invention, since the required redundancy is ensured not by a plurality of control units, but merely by a plurality of processing units integrated into the single control unit.

[0020] As already explained in the introduction to the description, the invention and thus the control system according to the invention can be used very advantageously in steering systems of motor vehicles. Accordingly, an advantageous development of the control system according to the invention provides that the control system is designed as a control system for steering at least one wheel of the motor vehicle, wherein the power electronics of the actuator for steering the at least one wheel can be operated as a function of output signals from at least one sensor of the control system that functionally interacts with a steering wheel of the motor vehicle for determining a steering movement of the steering wheel and as a function of output signals from at least one sensor of the control system that functionally interacts with the actuator of the control system for determining a steering position of the wheel. Preferably, the control system is designed solely as a steer-by-wire control system.By means of the control system according to the preferred embodiment of the present development, sufficient redundancy is ensured even in steering systems of motor vehicles in which, for example, there is no longer any mechanical connection between the steering wheel on one side and the at least one wheel on the other side.

[0021] Accordingly, an advantageous development of the method according to the invention provides that the actuator connected to at least one wheel of the motor vehicle in a force-transmitting manner is operated as a function of output signals from at least one sensor of the control system that functionally interacts with a steering wheel of the motor vehicle to determine a steering movement of the steering wheel and as a function of output signals from at least one sensor of the control system that functionally interacts with the actuator of the control system to determine a steering position of the wheel, preferably that the control system is operated only as a steer-by-wire control system.

[0022] Another advantageous development of the control system according to the invention provides that the control unit comprises at least two of the following components of the control system, preferably all of the following components, particularly preferably as one structural unit: the three processing units, a signal interface for the sensor signal-transmitting connection of the three processing units to a bus system superordinate to the control unit, a signal interface for the sensor signal-transmitting connection of the three processing units to at least one sensor interacting with the actuator, a control interface for the control signal-transmitting connection of the three processing units to the power electronics of the actuator, the power electronics for the actuator,a voltage source switch for connecting at least one of at least two voltage sources of the control system to the actuator, controlled by the control interface, to supply the actuator with the electrical power to operate the actuator. This enables a high to very high degree of structural and circuit integration of the control system according to the invention. The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the attached, roughly schematic drawing. The sole figure shows:

[0023] Fig. 1 shows an embodiment of the control system according to the invention with the control device according to the invention for carrying out the method according to the invention in a partial process diagram.

[0024] In Fig. 1, an embodiment of the control system according to the invention with the control device according to the invention for carrying out the method according to the invention is shown purely by way of example.

[0025] In the present exemplary embodiment, the control system 2 of a motor vehicle (not shown in detail) is designed to control a steering function of the motor vehicle and comprises a control unit 4. The control unit 4 of the control system 2 has at least one computing unit for evaluating output signals from at least one sensor 6, 8 of the control system 2 and for controlling power electronics 9 of an actuator 10 of the control system 2 by means of control signals as a function of these output signals in order to execute the steering function of the motor vehicle. According to the invention, the control unit 4 comprises three computing units 12, 14, 16 for evaluating output signals from the sensors 6, 8 and for controlling the power electronics 9 of the actuator 10 by means of control signals as a function of these output signals.For this purpose, the control unit 4 is designed and configured such that the output signals of the sensors 6, 8 can be evaluated in parallel in all computing units 12, 14, 16 and the power electronics 9 of the actuator 10 can be controlled by means of control signals from each of the computing units 12, 14, 16, wherein if at least two corresponding control signals from two of the three computing units 12, 14, 16 match, the power electronics 9 of the actuator 10 can be controlled by means of the control signals from at least one of these two computing units 12, 14, 16. In the present exemplary embodiment, the power electronics 9 of the actuator 10 is controlled in control operation by two of the three computing units 12, 14, 16, as will be explained in more detail below.The sensors 6, 8 shown in Figure 1 are, on the one hand, three magnetic sensors 6 functionally connected to the actuator 10 and, on the other hand, three inductive sensors 8 functionally connected to the actuator 10. Accordingly, this results in an improvement in reliability on the one hand due to the technological diversity of the sensors 6, 8 already explained above and, on the other hand, due to the aforementioned triple sensor technology of both the sensors 6 and the sensors 8. In addition, the control system 2 also has at least one steering wheel sensor (likewise not shown) which functionally interacts with a steering wheel (not shown) of the motor vehicle.

[0026] The control unit 4 is designed and configured in such a way that a first computing unit 12 of the three computing units 12, 14, 16 is functionally connectable to a first voltage source 18 of the control system 2 for supplying the actuator 10 with electrical power for operating the actuator 10, a second computing unit 14 of the three computing units 12, 14, 16 is functionally connectable to a second voltage source 20 of the control system 2 for supplying the actuator 10 with the electrical power for operating the actuator 10, and a third computing unit 16 of the three computing units 12, 14, 16 is functionally connectable to the first and second voltage sources 18, 20 for supplying the actuator 10 with the electrical power for operating the actuator 10.

[0027] Furthermore, the control unit 4 has only a single signal interface 22 for all three computing units 12, 14, 16 for the sensor signal-transmitting connection of the three computing units 12, 14, 16 to a bus system 24 of the motor vehicle that is higher-level than the control unit 4, wherein output signals of the at least one sensor (not shown) can be transmitted from this sensor to the computing units 12, 14, 16 by means of the bus system 24 and this signal interface 22. The aforementioned at least one sensor is the steering wheel sensor already mentioned above (not shown), which detects a steering movement of the steering wheel of the motor vehicle (likewise not shown). The aforementioned at least one steering wheel sensor can, analogous to the sensors 6, 8, on the one hand be technologically diverse and on the other hand, alternatively or additionally, be redundant.

[0028] Furthermore, the control unit 4 has, on the one hand, only a single signal interface 26 for all three computing units 12, 14, 16 for the sensor signal-transmitting connection of the three computing units 12, 14, 16 with the sensors 6, 8 functionally interacting with the actuator 10, wherein output signals of the sensors 6, 8 can be transmitted to the computing units 12, 14, 16 by means of this signal interface 26.On the other hand, the control unit 4 has only a single control interface 28 for all three computing units 12, 14, 16 for the control signal-transmitting connection of at least one of the three computing units 12, 14, 16 to the power electronics 9 of the actuator 10, wherein by means of this control interface 28 control signals can be transmitted to the power electronics 9 of the actuator 10 in such a way that the actuator 10 can be connected by means of these control signals to the two voltage sources 18, 20 of the control system 2 for supplying the actuator 10 with the electrical power for operating the actuator 10.

[0029] Furthermore, the control system 2 here has only a single control unit 4, wherein the control unit 4 is designed as a single structural unit in the present embodiment. Furthermore, the computing units 12, 14, 16 of the control unit 4 are functionally essentially identical to one another.

[0030] As already outlined above, the control system 2 is designed as a control system for steering at least one wheel 30 of the motor vehicle, wherein the actuator 10 for steering the at least one wheel 30 is operable as a function of output signals from at least one sensor of the control system 2 that functionally interacts with the steering wheel (not shown) of the motor vehicle to determine a steering movement of the steering wheel, and as a function of output signals from the sensors 6, 8 of the control system 2 that functionally interact with the actuator 10 of the control system 2 to determine a steering position of the wheel 30. In the motor vehicle not shown in detail, the control system 2 is designed merely as a steer-by-wire control system.As already explained in the introduction to the description, the steering system in a motor vehicle with steer-by-wire is designed without a mechanical connection between the steering wheel (not shown) of the motor vehicle, on the one hand, and the at least one wheel of the motor vehicle, on the other hand, which is steerable by means of a steering wheel movement. In addition to the above-mentioned control system 2, which is designed as a steer-by-wire control system, there is therefore no mechanical connection connected in parallel between the steering wheel and the at least one wheel 30.

[0031] In order to further increase the degree of integration of the control system 2, all of the following components of the control system 2 are integrated into the control unit 4 of the control system 2 as a single structural unit: the three processing units 12, 14, 16, the signal interface 22 for the sensor signal-transmitting connection of the three processing units 12, 14, 16 to the bus system 24, the signal interface 26 for the sensor signal-transmitting connection of the three processing units 12, 14, 16 to the sensors 6, 8 functionally interacting with the actuator 10, the control interface 28 for the control signal-transmitting connection of the three processing units 12, 14, 16 to the power electronics 9 of the actuator 10, the power electronics 9 for the actuator 10, a voltage source switch 32 for the controlled connection of at least one of the two voltage sources 18 by means of the control interface 28,20 of the control system 2 with the actuator 10 for supplying the actuator 10 with the electrical power for operating the actuator 10 and the actuator 10. In Fig. 1, a system boundary of the control unit 4 is shown with a continuous, thick line.

[0032] In the following, the functioning of the control system according to the invention with the control device according to the invention and the method according to the invention according to the present embodiment are explained in more detail with reference to Fig. 1.

[0033] If the steering wheel (not shown) of the motor vehicle is turned manually, for example, this steering movement of the steering wheel is detected in a manner known per se by the at least one sensor functionally connected to the steering wheel, namely the at least one steering wheel sensor (not shown), and forwarded as output signals from this at least one sensor via the bus system 24 to the control unit 4 of the control system 2. These output signals are fed in parallel to all three computing units 12, 14, 16 for evaluation via the signal interface 22 of the control unit 4. In order to be able to properly control the power electronics 9 of the actuator 10 of the control unit 4, it is also necessary that the current steering position of the at least one wheel 30 of the motor vehicle is known.This current steering position is detected by the sensors 6, 8 of the control unit 4, which functionally interact with the actuator 10, in a manner known per se to those skilled in the art. The signals are forwarded in the form of output signals from the sensors 6, 8 via the signal interface 26 of the control unit 2, analogous to the above-mentioned output signals, in parallel to the three computing units 12, 14, 16 for evaluation. After the parallel evaluation of all output signals in all three computing units 12, 14, 16, each of the three computing units 12, 14, 16 generates a control signal correlating to these output signals, with which the power electronics 9 of the actuator 10 can be controlled. A total of three corresponding control signals are therefore present in parallel in the control interface 28. If all three computing units 12, 14, 16 are functioning properly, the aforementioned control signals should be identical.

[0034] If at least two corresponding control signals from two of the three processing units 12, 14, 16 match, the actuator 10 is controlled by means of the control signals from at least one of these two processing units. If all three processing units 12, 14, 16 are functioning properly, the voltage source switch 32 of the control unit 2 is controlled by the first and second processing units 12, 14 such that three electrical coils of the actuator 10 intended for controlled operation of the actuator 10 are energized by the first processing unit 12 via the first voltage source 18, and three further electrical coils of the actuator 10 intended for the aforementioned controlled operation of the actuator 10 are energized by the second voltage source 20, via the second processing unit 14.

[0035] Should one of the two computing units 12, 14 not function properly, i.e., the aforementioned control signal of the faulty computing unit 12 or 14 differs from the control signal of the properly functioning computing unit 14 or 12, the proper control signal of the likewise properly functioning third computing unit 16, corresponding to the control signal of the properly functioning computing unit 14 or 12, is present in the control interface 28 in parallel. Accordingly, the actuator 10 is controlled by means of this control signal of the third computing unit 16 in such a way that the voltage source 18 or 20 corresponding to the faulty computing unit 12 or 14 is electrically connected by means of the third computing unit 16 to the corresponding three electrical coils of the actuator 10.Thus, the above-explained control operation of the actuator 10 can always be maintained by two properly functioning computing units, namely 12, 14 or 12, 16 or 14, 16, even if one computing unit 12, 14, 16 of the control unit 4 is faulty, by means of the aforementioned two-out-of-three control.

[0036] Due to the inventive design of the control unit 4, the control system 2, and the method for operating the control system 2, sufficient redundancy for a motor vehicle or the like can be realized with X-by-wire in a simple and therefore cost-effective manner. For example, this is easily understood using the present exemplary embodiment, namely the steering of the motor vehicle. In the motor vehicle of the exemplary embodiment, instead of the known mechanical connection between the steering wheel of the motor vehicle and the at least one wheel of the motor vehicle to be steered, only the so-called steer-by-wire system is used, in which the aforementioned mechanical connection is omitted. According to the present exemplary embodiment, it is not necessary to provide a plurality of control units in order to achieve the aforementioned redundancy, for example.

[0037] Instead, only control unit 4 is used as the sole control unit for executing the steering function of the motor vehicle. Thus, only the number of computing units is tripled; the number of other components of control unit 4 remains the same.

[0038] However, the field of application of motor vehicle steering using steer-by-wire systems is mentioned here purely as an example. The invention can also be advantageously used for other motor vehicle functions. For example, reference is made here only to other by-wire systems, which are also generally referred to as X-by-wire systems. Accordingly, the invention is not limited to the present exemplary embodiment. See, for example, the relevant statements in the introduction to the description and in the description of the specific exemplary embodiment. The basic design of such X-by-wire systems is well known to those skilled in the art.

[0039] List of reference symbols

[0040] 2 Control system

[0041] 4 Control unit

[0042] 6 Magnetic Sensors

[0043] 8 Inductive sensors

[0044] 9 Power electronics

[0045] 10 Actuator

[0046] 12 First computing unit

[0047] 14 Second computing unit

[0048] 16 Third computing unit

[0049] 18 First voltage source

[0050] 20 Second voltage source

[0051] 22 Signal interface

[0052] 24 bus system

[0053] 26 Signal interface

[0054] 28 Control interface

[0055] 30 wheels

[0056] 32 Power source switch

Claims

Patent claims 1. A control unit (4) for a control system (2) of a motor vehicle for controlling a function of the motor vehicle, wherein the control unit (4) has at least one computing unit (12, 14, 16) for evaluating output signals from at least one sensor (6, 8) of the control system (2) and for controlling power electronics (9) of an actuator (10) of the control system (2) by means of control signals depending on these output signals to execute this function of the motor vehicle, characterized in that the control unit (4) has three computing units (12, 14, 16), wherein the control unit (4) is designed and configured such that the output signals of the at least one sensor (6, 8) can be evaluated in parallel in all computing units (12, 14, 16) and the power electronics (9) of the actuator (10) can be controlled by means of control signals from each of the computing units (12, 14, 16).and wherein, if at least two corresponding control signals from two of the three computing units (12, 14, 16) match, the power electronics (9) of the actuator (10) can be controlled by means of the control signals from at least one computing unit (12, 14; 12, 16; 14, 16) of these two computing units (12, 14; 12, 16; 14, 16).

2. Control device (4) according to claim 1, characterized in that the control device (4) is designed and set up in such a way that a first computing unit (12) of the three computing units (12, 14, 16) is functionally connected to a first voltage source (18) of the control system (2) for supplying the actuator (10) with an electrical power for operating the actuator (10), a second computing unit (14) of the three computing units (12, 14, 16) is functionally connectable to a second voltage source (20) of the control system (2) for supplying the actuator (10) with the electrical power for operating the actuator (10), and a third computing unit (16) of the three computing units (12, 14, 16) is functionally connectable to the first and / or the second voltage source (18, 20) for supplying the actuator (10) with the electrical power for operating the actuator (10).

3. Control unit (4) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the control unit (4) has only a single signal interface (22) for all three computing units (12, 14, 16) for the sensor signal-transmitting connection of the three computing units (12, 14, 16) to a bus system (24) of the motor vehicle that is higher than the control unit (4), wherein output signals of at least one of the at least one sensor can be transmitted from this sensor to the computing units (12, 14, 16) by means of the bus system (24) and this signal interface (22).

4. Control unit (4) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the control unit (4) has only a single signal interface (26) for all three computing units (12, 14, 16) for the sensor signal-transmitting connection of the three computing units (12, 14, 16) to at least one sensor (6, 8) functionally interacting with the actuator (10), wherein output signals from this sensor (6, 8) can be transmitted to the computing units (12, 14, 16) by means of this signal interface (26).

5. Control device (4) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that that the control unit (4) has only a single control interface (28) for all three computing units (12, 14, 16) for the control signal-transmitting connection of at least one of the three computing units (12, 14, 16) to the power electronics (9) of the actuator (10), wherein by means of this control interface (28) control signals can preferably be transmitted to the power electronics (9) of the actuator (10) in such a way that the actuator (10) can be connected by means of these control signals to at least one voltage source (18, 20) of the control system (2) for supplying the actuator (10) with the electrical power for operating the actuator (10).

6. Control unit (4) according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the control unit (4) is designed as a structural unit, preferably that all computing units (12, 14, 16) of the control unit (4) are designed to be essentially identical to one another only in functional terms.

7. Control system (2) of a motor vehicle for controlling a function of the motor vehicle, with at least one control unit (4), wherein the control unit (4) has at least one computing unit (12, 14, 16) for evaluating output signals of at least one sensor (6, 8) of the control system (2) and for controlling power electronics (9) of an actuator (10) of the control system (2) by means of control signals as a function of these output signals in order to carry out this function of the motor vehicle, characterized in that the control unit (4) is designed as a control unit (4) according to one of claims 1 to 6.

8. Control system (2) according to claim 7, characterized in that that the control unit (4) is designed as only a single control unit (4).

9. Control system (2) according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that the control system (2) is designed as a control system (2) for steering at least one wheel (30) of the motor vehicle, wherein the actuator (10) for steering the at least one wheel (30) is operable as a function of output signals from at least one sensor of the control system (2) that functionally interacts with a steering wheel of the motor vehicle for determining a steering movement of the steering wheel and as a function of output signals from at least one sensor (6, 8) of the control system (2) that functionally interacts with the actuator (10) of the control system (2) for determining a steering position of the wheel (30), preferably that the control system (2) is designed merely as a steer-by-wire control system.

10. Control system (2) according to one of claims 7 to 9, characterized in that the control unit (4) comprises at least two of the following components of the control system (2), preferably all of the following components, particularly preferably as one structural unit: the three processing units (12, 14, 16), a signal interface (22) for the sensor signal-transmitting connection of the three processing units (12, 14, 16) to a bus system (24) superordinate to the control unit (4), a signal interface (26) for the sensor signal-transmitting connection of the three processing units (12, 14, 16) to at least one sensor (6, 8) functionally interacting with the actuator (10), a control interface (28) for the control signal-transmitting connection of the three processing units (12, 14, 16) to the power electronics (9) of the actuator (10), the power electronics (9) for the actuator (10), a voltage source switch (32) for the Control interface (28) controlled connection of at least one of at least two voltage sources (18, 20) of the control system (2) to the actuator (10) for supplying the actuator (10) with the electrical power for operating the actuator (10), the actuator (10).

11. Method for operating a control system (2) of a motor vehicle according to one of claims 7 to 10, according to which the output signals of the at least one sensor (6, 8) are evaluated in parallel in all computing units (12, 14, 16) and the power electronics (9) of the actuator (10) can be controlled by means of control signals from each of the computing units (12, 14, 16), wherein if at least two corresponding control signals from two of the three computing units (12, 14, 16) match, the power electronics (9) of the actuator (10) is controlled by means of the control signals from at least one computing unit (12, 14; 12, 16; 14, 16) of these two computing units (12, 14; 12, 16; 14, 16).

12. Method according to claim 11, characterized in that the power electronics (9) of the actuator (10) is controlled by means of control signals in such a way that the actuator (10) is connected by means of these control signals to at least one voltage source (18, 20) of the control system (2) for supplying the actuator (10) with the electrical power for operating the actuator (10).

13. Method according to claim 11 or 12, characterized in that the actuator (10) connected to at least one wheel (30) of the motor vehicle in a force-transmitting manner is controlled as a function of output signals from at least one sensor of the control system (2) that functionally interacts with a steering wheel of the motor vehicle to determine a steering movement of the steering wheel and as a function of Output signals of at least one sensor (6, 8) of the control system (2) which functionally interacts with the actuator (10) of the control system (2) to determine a steering position of the wheel (30), preferably that the control system (2) is operated only as a steer-by-wire control system.

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