Vehicle Component Activation for Uncontrolled Rolling Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
In braking situations, vehicles may roll away uncontrollably if the driver or occupants are unable to safely park them, especially after severe emergency braking, posing a danger to occupants and other road users.
Innovation Solution
A method and device that monitor a second vehicle component for occupant actuation and automatically activate a first vehicle component, such as a braking or driving device, after a predetermined time if the occupant fails to do so, ensuring the vehicle remains stationary, utilizing existing vehicle systems like safety and driver assistance systems, and incorporating sensors for validation to prevent unreasonable actuations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the driver or occupants are unable to safely park the vehicle after emergency braking, then the vehicle may roll away uncontrollably, but the driver or occupants may be incapacitated due to severe emergency braking or injuries
Solution Approach 1:
The vehicle system automatically monitors whether the vehicle is properly parked and, if not, autonomously activates parking functions (parking brake, steering wheel locking, engine shutdown) without requiring occupant intervention. This self-service mechanism ensures safe parking even when occupants are incapacitated.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary monitoring of parking status immediately after emergency braking stops the vehicle. If the vehicle is not properly parked within a predetermined time, the system proactively activates parking functions before uncontrolled rolling can occur, preventing the danger situation rather than reacting to it.
2Reliability
If the vehicle automatically activates parking functions after a predetermined time, then uncontrolled rolling away is prevented, but the system complexity increases due to monitoring and timing mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The monitoring system utilizes existing vehicle sensors and control units that serve multiple functions. The same sensors used for collision detection and emergency braking are repurposed to monitor parking status, eliminating the need for dedicated monitoring hardware and reducing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines the monitoring function, timing function, and actuation function into a single integrated control unit. This merging of functions reduces the number of separate components and simplifies the control architecture while maintaining reliable automated parking assistance.
Data Source
AI summary
A method is provided for activating at least one vehicle component of a vehicle in a braking situation of the vehicle. The method includes, but is not limited to raking of the vehicle to a halt and monitoring of at least one second vehicle component take place, and the second vehicle component can be actuated by a vehicle occupant. In addition, actuation of the at least one first vehicle component after a predetermined time takes place in the event that the second vehicle component is not actuated by the vehicle occupant within the predetermined time.