Distributed Acceleration Sensors for Accident Scenario Differentiation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing accident detection systems in transportation vehicles struggle to differentiate between various collision scenarios accurately and timely, leading to unnecessary or delayed activation of safety systems, which can result in either false triggering or inadequate protection for occupants.
Innovation Solution
A distributed sensor system with acceleration sensors installed at multiple locations on the vehicle, processing circuits to integrate acceleration data, and an evaluation device to derive local and overall accident information, enabling early and differentiated scenario distinction by comparing speed change values with threshold values and using binary information to determine necessary interventions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a single acceleration sensor is used for accident detection, then the device complexity is low, but the measurement precision and reliability of accident scenario differentiation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the vehicle into multiple evaluation regions (front, rear, left, right) and places acceleration sensors at different locations within these regions. Each sensor measures local acceleration, and the evaluation device determines regional acceleration values by combining sensor data. This segmentation allows accurate differentiation of accident scenarios (frontal collision, rear-end collision, side collision) by comparing acceleration patterns across different regions, thereby improving measurement precision without requiring a single complex sensor.
2Reliability
If multiple sensors are installed at different locations, then the measurement precision improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines acceleration data from multiple sensors located at different positions within the same evaluation region to determine a single regional acceleration value. The evaluation device processes and merges these measurements, applying threshold comparisons and logical operations to reliably determine whether an accident scenario is occurring. This merging approach improves reliability by utilizing multiple data points while managing complexity through systematic evaluation logic.
Solution Approach 2:
The evaluation device serves multiple functions: it processes data from multiple sensors, determines regional acceleration values, compares these values against threshold values, identifies accident scenarios, and triggers appropriate safety systems. This multi-functional approach consolidates what would otherwise require separate systems into a single evaluation device, improving reliability while controlling overall system complexity.
3Loss of time
If threshold values are set low for early detection, then the duration of action is reduced, but false triggering increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent establishes different threshold values for different evaluation regions (front, rear, left, right) based on the specific characteristics and vulnerability of each region. For example, the front region may have different threshold criteria compared to the side regions. This localized threshold approach allows early detection in each region according to its specific risk profile while maintaining reliability by not applying a uniform low threshold across all regions, thereby reducing false positives.
Solution Approach 2:
The evaluation device dynamically compares regional acceleration values against threshold values and adjusts its evaluation based on the pattern of acceleration across multiple regions. Rather than using a fixed static threshold, the system evaluates the relative acceleration patterns and determines accident scenarios based on which regions exceed their respective thresholds and how these exceedances correlate across regions. This dynamic evaluation reduces response time while maintaining reliability.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution allows for reliable and timely differentiation between accident scenarios, enabling precise triggering of safety systems to minimize occupant risk and avoid unnecessary activations, thereby enhancing accident response and safety.
Implementation Method 1
a multiplicity of sensors, in particular acceleration sensors, installed at different, distributed installation locations for recording the local acceleration
Data Source
AI summary
A method for an early accident detection in transportation vehicles that includes recording the local acceleration at different distributed locations in a transportation vehicle using acceleration sensors installed at different locations; ascertaining local effect information for the different locations based on the measured accelerations; jointly evaluating the effect information for the different locations and deriving accident information, and outputting the accident information. The method includes an apparatus having acceleration sensors installed at different distributed installation locations in a transportation vehicle for recording the local acceleration at the respective installation location, one or more processing circuits for ascertaining in each case local effect information for the different installation locations based on the respectively measured local acceleration, and an evaluation device for jointly evaluating the effect information for the different installation locations and deriving accident information and outputting the accident information.