Single-Track Vehicle Emergency Call Control by Injury Severity

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing emergency call systems in vehicles, particularly two-wheeled vehicles, face criticism for not immediately activating calls in critical situations, potentially delaying rescue services, while also generating unnecessary alerts in less severe accidents.

Innovation Solution

A method and device that assess injury severity using vehicle sensors to determine if an emergency call should be immediate or delayed, considering factors like kinetic energy dissipation and driver separation, allowing for precise decision-making on call activation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of time

If an automatic emergency call is made immediately after an accident, then the response time for rescue services is reduced, but unnecessary alerts are generated in minor accidents

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresponse timeVSAvoidunnecessary alerts
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system changes the parameter of call activation timing from immediate to conditional based on injury severity assessment. By evaluating multiple parameters (acceleration values, intrusion detection, sensor data) and comparing them against thresholds, the system determines whether to activate the emergency call immediately or delay it, thereby reducing unnecessary alerts while maintaining rapid response for severe cases

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The system introduces an intermediary assessment mechanism between the accident detection and emergency call activation. This intermediary layer evaluates injury severity using sensor data and determination rules, acting as a mediator that decides whether immediate activation is necessary or if a waiting period should be implemented, thus resolving the contradiction between rapid response and alert reduction

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Object-generated harmful factors

If a waiting period is provided before automatic emergency call activation, then unnecessary alerts are reduced, but response time for critical cases is delayed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveunnecessary alertsVSAvoidresponse time
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-generated harmful factorsVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements dynamic adjustment of the waiting period duration based on real-time assessment of injury severity. Rather than using a fixed waiting period, the system continuously monitors sensor data and adjusts the delay timing dynamically - implementing no wait for severe cases and longer waits for minor cases, thereby optimizing both alert reduction and response time

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the parameter of call activation timing from immediate to conditional based on injury severity assessment. By evaluating multiple parameters (acceleration values, intrusion detection, sensor data) and comparing them against thresholds, the system determines whether to activate the emergency call immediately or delay it, thereby reducing unnecessary alerts while maintaining rapid response for severe cases

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Measurement precision

If injury severity assessment is implemented to decide on immediate or delayed emergency call, then the accuracy of emergency call activation is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinjury severity assessment accuracyVSAvoidcontrol system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments the injury severity assessment into distinct functional modules: sensor data acquisition, parameter evaluation, determination rule application, and activation decision. By dividing the complex assessment process into separate functional blocks, the system achieves high measurement precision while managing device complexity through modular architecture

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses universal determination rules that can evaluate multiple different sensor parameters (acceleration, intrusion, other sensor data) against standardized thresholds. This multi-functional approach allows the same control logic to handle various accident types and severity levels, improving assessment accuracy without proportionally increasing complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP4162458B1Method and apparatus for controlling an emergency call device for a single-track vehicle, and emergency call system
Publication Date: 2025.08.06 ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
  • EP4162458B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4162458B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP4162458B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

The invention relates to a method for controlling an emergency call device (115) for a single-track vehicle (100). The method comprises a step of reading at least one sensor signal (104) from an interface (121) with at least one sensor device (102) of the vehicle (100). The at least one sensor signal (104) represents driving-dynamics data of the vehicle (100) and/or operating input data from a driver of the vehicle (100). The method also comprises a step of determining, using the at least one sensor signal (104), an injury severity (125) of the driver of the vehicle (100) in the event of an accident of the vehicle (100). The method additionally comprises a step of processing the injury severity (125) in order to generate a control signal (127) for controlling the emergency call device (115). The control signal (127) comprises an activation command for activating an emergency call by means of the emergency call device (115) immediately, or in a manner delayed by a predefined waiting time, after the accident. The method further comprises a step of providing the control signal (127) for output to an interface (129) with the emergency call device (115).