Vehicle Accident Reconstruction Using Motion Sensor Data
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for evaluating road traffic accidents rely on unreliable witness statements and incomplete damage and trace evidence, making it difficult to accurately reconstruct the accident course.
Innovation Solution
A method and device that continuously measure and store vehicle movement data, including acceleration and velocity, to detect accident events, calculate impact angles, and facilitate emergency responses by transmitting position data, enabling objective and detailed accident reconstruction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If witness statements and damage traces are used for accident evaluation, then the evaluation process is simple, but the accuracy and reliability of accident reconstruction deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously measures and stores movement data (acceleration, velocity, position) before accidents occur using motion sensors and GPS receivers. This preliminary data collection ensures that accurate accident reconstruction information is already available when an accident happens, eliminating the need for unreliable witness statements and complex manual reconstruction processes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the manual evaluation system (witness statements, physical damage inspection) with an automated electronic measurement system. Motion sensors, GPS receivers, and evaluation devices automatically capture and process movement data, substituting human judgment and physical trace analysis with objective digital measurements that provide higher accuracy without requiring complex manual reconstruction procedures.
2Loss of information
If movement data is stored for extended periods, then sufficient data is available for accident reconstruction, but data protection concerns increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously measures and stores movement data in advance of potential accidents, maintaining a rolling buffer of recent positional and motion information. This ensures that sufficient data is always available for reconstruction without needing to store excessive historical data, as the most relevant information is captured in real-time before and during accident events.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements selective data storage, keeping only the movement data necessary for accident reconstruction (typically a few minutes to hours of continuous data) rather than storing all possible historical data. This partial action approach provides sufficient information for reconstruction while minimizing data protection risks by limiting the volume of stored personal information.
3Loss of time
If emergency response systems transmit detailed position data, then rescue personnel can locate accidents quickly, but privacy concerns increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts and transmits only the essential information needed for emergency response (position coordinates, acceleration data indicating accident severity) while leaving detailed personal information and extensive movement history stored locally in the vehicle. This selective extraction provides rescue personnel with sufficient location and severity data to respond quickly without exposing unnecessary personal privacy information.
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 approach simplifies and accelerates accident reconstruction, reduces reliance on witness statements, and improves the accuracy of event reconstruction by using motion sensors, memory devices, and evaluation units to analyze movement data, while ensuring data protection and enabling quick rescue responses.
Implementation Method 1
at least one motion sensor (6) which is designed to detect movement data of the vehicle; the motion data comprise velocity and/or acceleration data of the vehicle
Data Source
AI summary
A device for determining accident effects on a vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle, comprises: at least one motion sensor that is designed to detect movement data of the vehicle; at least one memory device that is designed to store the movement data detected by the at least one motion sensor; and an evaluation device that is designed to evaluate the movement data detected by the at least one motion sensor in order to detect an accident event.