Method and device for inspecting and controlling the departure of vehicles

Abstract

In a method for controlling the departure of a vehicle (4), in particular a utility vehicle and / or an autonomous self-driving vehicle (4): at least one inspection step (S1-S8) is carried out on the vehicle (4); a validity period (T1-T8) is assigned to the result of each inspection step (S1-S8); and an inspection validity period (T0) of the vehicle (4) is determined on the basis of the validity periods (T1-T8) assigned to the individual inspection steps (S1-S8) such that the inspection validity period (T0) is not longer than the shortest validity period of the previously determined validity periods (T1-T8)

Description

[0001] R.413668

[0002] - 1 -

[0003] Description

[0004] title

[0005] Method and device for the inspection and pre-departure check of vehicles

[0006] The invention relates to a method and a device for inspecting and performing pre-departure checks on vehicles. The invention particularly relates to a method and a device for determining the validity period of a pre-departure check that has been carried out on a vehicle.

[0007] State of the art

[0008] For commercial vehicles and automated vehicles, it is legally required to check the vehicle's functionality before starting a journey. Such pre-departure checks are also beneficial for other types of vehicles to reduce the risk of accidents and breakdowns.

[0009] As part of such a pre-departure check, a series of prescribed inspection steps must be carried out. These prescribed inspection steps are performed regardless of whether there is a specific reason to check the vehicle's characteristic or condition in question.

[0010] Performing numerous inspection steps makes pre-departure checks time-consuming and expensive. Furthermore, conducting pre-departure checks can lead to undesirable delays in the vehicle's departure.

[0011] It is therefore an object of the invention to optimize the pre-departure checks of vehicles in order to make the pre-departure checks more efficient, time-saving, user-friendly and cost-effective.

[0012] Disclosure of invention: R.413668

[0013] - 2 -

[0014] The invention comprises a method for pre-departure checks of a vehicle, in particular a commercial vehicle and / or a self-driving autonomous vehicle, wherein the method comprises performing at least one inspection step on the vehicle in which at least one parameter and / or property of the vehicle is determined and verified; assigning a validity period to the result of each inspection step performed; and determining an inspection validity period of the vehicle based on the validity periods assigned to the individual inspection steps. The inspection validity period is no longer than the shortest of the previously determined validity periods.

[0015] For the period of validity of the inspection, a certificate can be issued confirming that a pre-departure check has been carried out and has shown that the vehicle is roadworthy and ready for use.

[0016] The invention also includes an inspection device for pre-departure checks of a vehicle, in particular a commercial vehicle and / or a self-driving autonomous vehicle, wherein the inspection device is provided and designed to carry out a pre-departure check method according to the invention.

[0017] A method and a device according to the invention make it possible to perform the pre-departure check more efficiently, in a more time-saving, user-friendly, and cost-effective manner. In particular, a method and a device according to the invention make it possible to forgo performing the pre-departure check if the expected operating time of the vehicle lies within a valid inspection period of the vehicle, so that a further pre-departure check is not necessary.

[0018] This allows the vehicle to be used more quickly and efficiently.

[0019] A method and a device according to the invention can be used, in particular, for the vehicles of a fleet comprising a large number of vehicles. The entire fleet can thus be used considerably more efficiently, as the effort required to carry out unnecessary pre-departure checks can be avoided. R.413668

[0020] - 3 -

[0021] The vehicle in question can be a motor vehicle, in particular a car or a truck. However, it can also be a fixed-wing aircraft, a helicopter, a drone, a ship, or another type of machine.

[0022] In one embodiment, the method comprises performing several inspection steps. These inspection steps can relate to various vehicle components; in particular, they can focus on safety-relevant components to enhance the vehicle's operational safety. The inspection steps can also address components relevant to the vehicle's operation to reduce the risk of breakdowns during operation.

[0023] In one embodiment, the maximum length of the inspection validity period is limited to a predetermined maximum calendar validity period.

[0024] This can further increase the safety of the vehicle's operation. It may also be necessary, due to legal requirements, to limit the maximum inspection validity period to a predetermined maximum calendar period.

[0025] In one embodiment, the method comprises storing the validity periods and / or the inspection validity period. The method may, in particular, comprise storing the validity periods in a memory provided in the inspection device according to the invention.

[0026] The validity periods and / or the inspection validity period can also be transferred to the vehicle, to an external diagnostic device, to a virtual cloud and / or to a higher-level control and / or fleet management system, and stored and / or evaluated there.

[0027] The stored data can be used to log the pre-departure checks performed. The stored data can also be used to plan and / or optimize future inspections. R.413668

[0028] - 4 -

[0029] In one embodiment, an inspection device according to the invention has at least one communication device which is designed and configured to transmit the validity periods and / or the inspection validity period to a higher-level control and / or fleet management system.

[0030] Data transmission can be wired, e.g. via a USB interface, or wireless, e.g. via WLAN, Bluetooth and / or a mobile network.

[0031] In one embodiment, the inspection device is equipped with a display device and a method according to the invention comprises displaying the validity periods and / or the inspection validity period on the display device so that they can be read by an inspector and / or driver of the vehicle.

[0032] The display device may also show error messages, especially if at least one of the inspection steps could not be carried out successfully.

[0033] The display device can be permanently attached to the inspection device. Alternatively, the display device can be a mobile device to which the information to be displayed is transmitted via a cable connection or a wireless connection, e.g., via a WLAN or Bluetooth connection.

[0034] In one embodiment, the method comprises verifying the validity periods of the individual inspection steps for the vehicle to be inspected, as previously determined according to the invention, and performing only those inspection steps from a set of possible inspection steps whose validity period has expired or whose validity period will expire within a predetermined timeframe. In this way, the method can be further optimized. In particular, the method can be accelerated, as it avoids performing unnecessary inspection steps.

[0035] The specified period can, in particular, include a planned operational period for the vehicle. This ensures that R.413668

[0036] - 5 - the vehicle is equipped with a valid certificate for the entire intended period of use.

[0037] In one embodiment, at least one condition is specified for at least one of the inspection steps, which must be met in order for the associated validity period to remain valid.

[0038] Such conditions may include, for example, that the vehicle's load is not changed during the validity period; that a specified maximum speed and / or acceleration of the vehicle is not exceeded; that a trailer hitch of the vehicle is not used; and / or that the vehicle's engine is switched off at specified intervals.

[0039] The procedure may include, in particular, verifying compliance with the previously established conditions and carrying out, at the next pre-departure check, those inspection steps whose conditions have not been met.

[0040] In this way, the safety of the vehicle can be further improved, as risks, defects and errors that may arise from failure to comply with previously defined conditions can be identified and rectified if necessary during the next pre-departure check before the vehicle departs.

[0041] In one embodiment, the method includes dynamically determining the validity periods of the individual inspection steps during the execution of the method.

[0042] When dynamically determining the validity periods of the individual inspection steps, the wear of the affected component(s) can be taken into account. In particular, the validity period can be reduced as the wear of the affected component(s) increases, in order to approach the wear limit of the affected component(s) with progressively shorter validity periods.

[0043] In one embodiment, the method comprises releasing the vehicle for operation after all inspection steps have been successfully completed (R.413668).

[0044] - 6 - are. The procedure may, in particular, include approving the vehicle for operation as a commercial vehicle and / or for autonomous driving.

[0045] Conversely, the vehicle may be blocked from use, in particular for use as a commercial vehicle and / or for autonomous operation, if at least one of the inspection steps could not be carried out successfully and / or if the vehicle's inspection validity period has expired.

[0046] In one embodiment, the method comprises specifying a desired end to the inspection validity period and planning and carrying out the inspection of the vehicle, taking into account the specified end to the inspection validity period, in such a way that the inspection validity period does not expire before the specified end to the inspection validity period.

[0047] This procedure allows the vehicle to be prepared for deployment on schedule. In particular, it can reduce or even completely eliminate the risk of operational delays that may arise from the need to perform a pre-departure check.

[0048] In one embodiment, the device comprises at least one computing unit, in particular a programmable computing unit, which is designed and configured to carry out a method according to the invention. A method according to the invention can be carried out particularly efficiently with a computing unit, in particular with a programmable computing unit.

[0049] In one embodiment, the inspection device includes at least one storage device designed and configured to store the validity period determined for each inspection step and / or the inspection validity period of at least one vehicle. This makes it possible to log the pre-departure checks performed and / or to evaluate them for further improvements.

[0050] In one embodiment, the inspection device includes a recognition device designed and configured to identify a vehicle to be inspected. This ensures that the pre-departure check, inspection results, and certificate can be reliably and accurately recorded. R.413668

[0051] - 7 - reliably assigned to the vehicle being inspected. This significantly reduces the risk of errors that can arise from manually assigning inspection results to a vehicle.

[0052] Exemplary embodiments of the invention are described below with reference to the accompanying figures.

[0053] Brief description of the characters

[0054] Figure 1 shows an inspection device for pre-departure checks of a vehicle according to an embodiment of the invention.

[0055] Figure 2 shows an example of a determination of the inspection validity period of a vehicle according to an embodiment of the invention.

[0056] Figure 3 shows an example of an inspection in which several inspection steps are carried out before the actual pre-departure check.

[0057] Figure 4 shows an example of an inspection in which an inspection step that was carried out prematurely is repeated as part of the pre-departure check.

[0058] Figure 5 shows an example of an inspection with one inspection step that has a relatively long validity period.

[0059] Character description

[0060] Figure 1 shows a schematic representation of an inspection device 2 for pre-departure check of a vehicle 4 according to an embodiment of the invention.

[0061] The inspection device 2 comprises a recognition device 6, which is designed and configured to identify the vehicle 4 to be inspected.

[0062] The recognition device 6 can, for example, comprise a camera that takes at least one picture of the vehicle 4 to be inspected, in particular at least one picture of an official license plate or other R.413668

[0063] - 8 - individual registration number of vehicle 4, records and identifies vehicle 4 based on the at least one recorded image.

[0064] The recognition device 6 can also include an RFID reader or a barcode or QR code reader, which makes it possible to identify the vehicle 4 using an RFID chip 8 attached to the vehicle 4 and / or a barcode or QR code 10 attached to the vehicle 4.

[0065] The inspection device 2 also includes a computing unit 12, which is designed and configured to carry out a method according to the invention for the inspection and pre-departure check of the vehicle 4.

[0066] A method according to the invention comprises performing at least one inspection step S1-S8 on the vehicle 4. In this at least one inspection step S1-S8, at least one parameter and / or at least one property of the vehicle 4 is determined and checked.

[0067] Such an inspection step S1-S8 may, for example, include checking the air pressure in the wheels or tires 14 of the vehicle 4, the tightness of the wheel nuts and / or the lighting of the vehicle 4.

[0068] If an inspection step S1-S8 has not been successfully carried out, for example because the air pressure in at least one of the tires 14 of the vehicle 4 is too low, a corresponding error message can be issued via a display device 16 of the inspection device 2.

[0069] If an inspection step S1-S8 is not successfully completed, the procedure can be aborted, as the inspection can no longer be successfully completed in this case. Alternatively, even after an unsuccessful inspection step S1-S8, further inspection steps S1-S8 can be carried out to identify any further faults of vehicle 4, collect all faults, and then rectify them together.

[0070] After an inspection step S1-S8 has been successfully completed, a validity period T1-T8 is assigned to the result of the successfully completed inspection step S1-S8. The validity periods T1-T8 of the different inspection steps S1-S8 can differ from each other. R.413668

[0071] - 9 - differ, in particular the validity period T1 -T8 for each inspection step S1 -S8 can be individually determined.

[0072] The individual validity periods T1-T8 can be determined generally for all vehicle classes, individually for each vehicle class, for individual vehicle models, or for vehicles for the various inspection steps S1-S8, and used as the basis for the procedure. The validity periods T1-T8 of the various inspection steps S1-S8 can be derived with substantive justification.

[0073] Optionally, the validity periods T1-T8 of the individual inspection steps S1-S8 can be dynamically determined during the execution of the procedure, for example, depending on wear. Thus, for example, the validity period T1-T8 of an inspection of the kingpin of a semi-trailer of a tractor unit can be reduced with increasing wear, so that the validity period T1-T8 becomes progressively shorter and approaches the wear limit of the kingpin.

[0074] If all planned inspection steps S1-S8 have been successfully carried out, an inspection validity period TO of vehicle 4 is determined from the validity periods T1-T8 that have been assigned to the individual inspection steps S1-S8.

[0075] A method according to the invention may also comprise more or less than eight inspection steps S1-S8.

[0076] The inspection validity period TO of vehicle 4 is determined in such a way that it is not longer than the shortest of the previously determined validity periods TI TS:

[0077] TO < Tk, (1 < k < 8).

[0078] The inspection validity period TO of vehicle 4, as determined above, is the relevant validity period for the operation of vehicle 4, in particular for operation as a commercial vehicle and / or for autonomous operation. Vehicle 4 is authorized for operation, in particular for operation as a commercial vehicle and / or for autonomous operation, until the expiry of the inspection validity period TO, for example by means of a certificate. R.413668

[0079] - 10 -

[0080] Conversely, vehicle 4 will be blocked from operation, in particular for operation as a commercial vehicle and / or for autonomous operation, if at least one of the inspection steps S1-S8 was unsuccessful and / or if the inspection validity period TO of vehicle 4 has expired.

[0081] A method according to the invention can also include specifying a desired end of the inspection validity period TO, which results from a planned use of the vehicle 4, and planning and carrying out the inspection of the vehicle 4 under the specified end of the inspection validity period TO in such a way that the inspection validity period TO does not expire before the desired end of the inspection validity period or the planned use of the vehicle 4.

[0082] For example, for a vehicle 4, especially a tractor unit, from a larger fleet of vehicles 4 in a fleet management system, it can be seen that the vehicle 4 has been serviced at a given time and is then to be deployed.

[0083] Knowing the planned deployment time, possibly with an additional time buffer, the necessary inspection of vehicle 4 can be determined, taking into account the currently valid inspection steps S1-S8 and their remaining validity periods T1-T8, and transferred to an inspection management system or an inspector, so that the necessary inspection steps S1-S8 can be carried out in good time before the planned departure time of vehicle 4.

[0084] The duration of the inspection determined in this way can also be fed back into the fleet management system in order to plan the use of the vehicle 4 concerned accordingly.

[0085] An example of a determination according to the invention of the inspection validity period TO of the vehicle 4 from the validity periods T1 - T8 of the individual inspection steps S1 - S8 is schematically illustrated in Figure 2.

[0086] The period tA < t < tE shown in Figure 2, for example, comprises one calendar day. However, the period tA < t < tE shown in Figure 2 can also be R.413668

[0087] - 11 - encompass several calendar days, one or more weeks, or one or more months.

[0088] The inspection of vehicle 4 starts at a time to with a first inspection step S1. After the first inspection step S1, one or more further inspection steps S2 to S8 can be carried out successively.

[0089] Although eight inspection steps S1-S8 are shown as examples in Figure 2, a method according to the invention can also include more or fewer than eight inspection steps S1-S8.

[0090] In the example shown in Figure 2, all inspection steps S1-S8 are successfully carried out, and each of the inspection steps S1-S8 is assigned a validity period T1-T8.

[0091] The expiry of the inspection validity period TO of vehicle 4 results from the expiry of the first validity period T1 -T8 of the individual inspection steps S1 -S8.

[0092] In the example shown in Figure 2, the validity period T5 of the fifth inspection step S5 is the first of the validity periods T1-T8 of the individual inspection steps S1-S8 to expire at time t2.

[0093] The inspection validity period TO of vehicle 4 therefore comprises the period TO between the completion of the last inspection step S8 at time h and the time t2 of the expiry of the validity period T5 of the fifth inspection step S5.

[0094] A certificate issued after successful completion of the inspection therefore no longer only describes that the vehicle 4 was in a proper roadworthy and safe operating condition at time h at the end of the inspection, but also specifies the inspection validity period TO, within which all individual tests carried out in the individual inspection steps S1-S8 are valid.

[0095] The inspection validity period TO can be further extended by a legally prescribed maximum inspection validity period T. max , for example by R.413668

[0096] - 12 - the end t of the current calendar day. However, this limitation does not apply in the example shown in Figure 2, since the end of the validity period T5 of the fifth inspection step S5 is reached before the end tE of the current calendar day.

[0097] It is also possible that one or more of the inspection steps S1-S8 are carried out before the actual pre-departure check, i.e. before the time to.

[0098] For example, the loading and securing of the load of a commercial vehicle at a warehouse ramp can be checked immediately after the vehicle 4 has been loaded, while the other inspection steps S1-S8 are only carried out as part of the pre-departure check at a different location and at a later time.

[0099] An example of such a situation is shown schematically in Figure 3.

[0100] In the example shown in Figure 3, inspection steps S1 and S5 have already been carried out at times tr < to and ts. 1 < to before the start of the actual pre-departure check at time to.

[0101] The validity period T1 of the first inspection step S1 is long enough in this example that the premature execution of the first inspection step S1 has no effect on the expiry of the inspection validity period TO of vehicle 4.

[0102] However, the validity period T5 of the fifth inspection step S5 ends due to the early time ts 1 the execution of the fifth inspection step S5 is carried out first and therefore limits the inspection validity period TO of the vehicle 4.

[0103] The limitation of the inspection validity period TO of vehicle 4 by the expiry of the validity period T5 of a previously performed inspection step S5 can be avoided by repeating the prematurely performed inspection step S5 as part of the pre-departure check, as shown for inspection steps S5 and S5' in Figure 4. R.413668

[0104] - 13 -

[0105] Figure 5 shows another embodiment in which the third inspection step S3 has a relatively long validity period T3.

[0106] Such an inspection step S3 may, for example, include checking the wheel nuts on the wheels 14 of the vehicle 4, which were already checked the previous day, and may, for example, have a validity period T3 of 24h.

[0107] An inspection step S3, which has such a relatively long validity period T3, can at a time ts 1 The inspection must have been carried out in a preceding calendar period before time tA, for example on the preceding calendar day, without limiting the inspection validity period TO of vehicle 4. Such an example is shown in Figure 5.

[0108] Inspection steps S1-S8, which have such a relatively long validity period T1-T8, can be combined into a regularly recurring inspection, for example weekly, bi-weekly, tri-weekly or monthly.

[0109] Inspection steps S1-S8, which have such a particularly long validity period TI TS, can also be carried out as part of a general inspection of the vehicle 4 and / or during a manufacturer-specific vehicle inspection and then taken into account during their validity period T1-T8 in the daily pre-departure check / inspection of the vehicle 4.

[0110] In the embodiments shown in Figures 2 to 5, the inspection validity period TO of the vehicle 4 was determined as the minimum of the validity periods T1-T8 of the individual inspection steps S1-S8.

[0111] Alternatively, other, particularly more complex, mathematical calculations can be performed to determine the inspection validity period TO of vehicle 4. For example, shorter validity periods T1-T8 can be weighted or considered more heavily than longer validity periods T1-T8.

[0112] The validity periods T1-T8 of the individual inspection steps S1-S8 and / or the inspection validity period TO determined according to the invention can be stored in a storage device 15 in the inspection device 2, R.413668

[0113] - 14 -

[0114] The validity periods T1-T8 of the individual inspection steps S1-S8 and / or the inspection validity period TO determined according to the invention can also be transmitted from a communication device 17 to the vehicle 4, to an external diagnostic device 18, in a virtual cloud 20 and / or to a higher-level control and / or fleet management system 22 and stored and / or processed there.

[0115] The communication device 17 can be configured to transmit data via wired and / or wireless means, e.g. via WLAN, Bluetooth or a mobile network.

[0116] The validity periods T1-T8 of the individual inspection steps S1-S8 and / or the inspection validity period TO determined according to the invention can also be displayed on the display device 16 of the inspection device 2, where they can be read by the inspector and / or the driver of the vehicle 4.

[0117] The display device 16 can be permanently attached to the inspection device 2, as shown in Figure 1. Alternatively, the display device 16 can be a mobile device, such as a tablet PC or a smartphone, to which the information to be displayed is transmitted via a cable connection or a wireless connection, e.g., via a WLAN or Bluetooth connection.

[0118] The invention also includes a method for performing a pre-departure check or inspection of a vehicle 4, in which the previously determined validity periods T1-T8 of the individual inspection steps S1-S8 of the vehicle 4 to be inspected are checked, and only those inspection steps S1-S8 from a set of possible inspection steps S1-S8 are carried out whose validity period T1-T8 has expired or will expire within a predetermined period, which in particular includes the intended operating period of the vehicle 4. The pre-departure check or inspection of the vehicle 4 can thus be optimized and accelerated, since unnecessary inspection steps S1-S8 can be omitted.

[0119] Optionally, a method according to the invention may include defining conditions for the validity of the associated validity period T1-T8 for at least one of the inspection steps S1-S8. R.413668

[0120] - 15 -

[0121] Such conditions may include, for example, that the load of vehicle 4 is not changed or does not exceed a specified limit during the validity period T1-T8; that a specified maximum speed and / or acceleration of vehicle 4 is not exceeded; that a trailer hitch of vehicle 4 is not used; and / or that the engine of vehicle 4 is switched off at specified intervals.

[0122] The procedure may additionally include verifying compliance with such previously defined conditions and carrying out those inspection steps S1 - S8 before the expiry of their previously defined validity period T1 - T8 whose associated conditions have not been met.

[0123] Monitoring compliance with the previously defined conditions can include transmitting the necessary signals to the processing unit 12 and comparing them there with predefined target values. If it is determined that a permissible deviation from the predefined target values ​​has been exceeded, e.g., once, several times, or for a certain period of time, the validity period T1-T8 of the corresponding inspection step S1-S8 is reduced or terminated.

[0124] The method of monitoring the conditions can vary depending on the signals being monitored.

[0125] The monitoring may, for example, include software that is trained to check whether a trailer has been attached or detached, or whether the engine of vehicle 4 has been switched on or off.

[0126] A sensor system may also be provided that determines the maximum deceleration of the vehicle 4 and / or a trailer and / or detects collision damage.

[0127] The inspection device may also include a query or input mask into which an inspector or a driver of vehicle 4 must enter information such as whether vehicle 4 has suffered impact damage, whether the trailer has been uncoupled, whether the load has been moved and / or whether the load securing has been released.

Claims

R.413668 - 16 - Patent claims 1. Method for pre-departure checks of a vehicle (4), in particular a commercial vehicle and / or a self-driving autonomous vehicle (4), wherein the method comprises performing at least one inspection step (S1-S8) on the vehicle (4); assigning a validity period (TI TS) to the result of each inspection step (S1-S8); and determining an inspection validity period (TO) of the vehicle (4) on the basis of the validity periods (T1-T8) assigned to the individual inspection steps (S1-S8) such that the inspection validity period (TO) is not longer than the shortest of the previously determined validity periods (T1-T8).

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the method comprises issuing a certificate confirming that a pre-departure check has been carried out which has shown that the vehicle (4) is roadworthy and ready for use for the period of the inspection validity period (TO); and / or wherein the method comprises carrying out several inspection steps (S1-S8).

3. Method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the maximum length of the inspection validity period (TO) is limited by a predetermined calendar validity period (Tmax). R.413668 - 17 - 4. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the method comprises storing the validity periods (T1-T8) and / or the inspection validity period (TO), wherein the method particularly comprises storing the validity periods (T1-T8) in at least one of the vehicle (4), a vehicle-external diagnostic device (18) and a virtual cloud (20).

5. Method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the method comprises displaying the validity periods (T1-T8) and / or the inspection validity period (TO) on a display device (16); and / or transmitting the validity periods (T1-T8) and / or the inspection validity period (TO) to a higher-level control and / or fleet management system (22).

6. A method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the method comprises checking the validity periods (T1-T8) of the individual inspection steps (S1-S8) previously determined according to the invention for the vehicle (4) to be inspected and carrying out exactly those inspection steps (S1-S8) from a set of possible inspection steps (S1-S8) whose validity period (T1-T8) has expired or will expire within a predetermined period; wherein the predetermined period in particular includes a planned period of use of the vehicle (4).

7. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the method comprises determining at least one condition for the validity of the associated validity period (T1-T8) for at least one of the inspection steps (S1-S8).

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the method comprises verifying compliance with the previously specified conditions and performing those inspection steps (S1-S8) whose conditions have not been met. R.413668 - 18 - 9. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the method comprises dynamically determining the validity periods (T1 - T8) of the individual inspection steps (S1 - S8) during the execution of the method.

10. Method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the method comprises releasing the vehicle (4) for operation when all inspection steps (S1-S8) have been successfully carried out; wherein the method particularly comprises releasing the vehicle (4) for use as a commercial vehicle and / or for autonomous driving.

11. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the method comprises specifying an end of the inspection validity period (TO) and planning and carrying out the inspection of the vehicle (4) subject to the specified end of the inspection validity period (TO) in such a way that the inspection validity period (TO) does not expire before the specified end of the inspection validity period (TO).

12. Inspection device (2) for pre-departure check of a vehicle (4), in particular a commercial vehicle and / or a self-driving autonomous vehicle, wherein the inspection device (2) is provided and configured to perform a pre-departure check method according to one of the preceding claims.

13. Inspection device (2) according to claim 12, wherein the inspection device (2) comprises at least one computing unit (12), in particular a programmable computing unit (12), which is designed and configured to perform a method according to one of the preceding claims.

14. Inspection device (2) according to claim 12 or 13, wherein the inspection device (2) comprises at least one storage device (15) which is designed and configured to store the validity period (T1-T8) determined for each inspection step (S1-S8) and / or the inspection validity period (TO) of at least one vehicle (4); and / or R.413668 - 19 - wherein the inspection device (2) comprises at least one display device (16) which is designed and configured to display the validity period (T1 - T8) determined for each inspection step (S1 - S8) and / or the inspection validity period (TO) of at least one vehicle (4).

15. Inspection device (2) according to any one of claims 12 to 14, wherein the inspection device (2) has at least one recognition device (6) which is provided and configured to identify a vehicle (4) to be inspected; and / or wherein the inspection device (2) has at least one communication device (17) which is provided and configured to transmit the validity periods (T1-T8) and / or the inspection validity period (TO) to a higher-level control and / or fleet management system (22).

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