Vehicle Rollover Detection Using Acceleration Time Change
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for detecting vehicle rollover movements are unable to reliably differentiate between dangerous and non-dangerous movements within the required time frame, often initiating unnecessary safety measures due to the sensitivity of the detection methods.
Innovation Solution
Measuring the time change of vehicle acceleration in linear directions, particularly the lateral direction, to estimate the danger of vehicle movement and trigger safety measures early, while preventing unnecessary activations by using a counter to track deviations from threshold values.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If the detection sensitivity is increased to achieve faster detection time (less than 300 ms), then the detection speed is improved, but false positive rate increases causing unnecessary safety measure activation
Solution Approach 1:
The evaluation is divided into multiple sequential stages: initial jolt detection, intermediate evaluation phase with continued monitoring, and final determination. This segmentation allows the system to rapidly detect potential events while maintaining reliability through progressive verification across distinct evaluation phases.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary detection of acceleration jolts and initiates an intermediate evaluation phase before committing to full safety measure activation. This preliminary action allows early identification of potential roll-over events while providing a buffer for further verification to avoid false positives.
2Measurement precision
If the detection threshold is lowered to detect subtle rotational movements (less than 10° tilt), then the measurement precision is improved, but the system becomes overly sensitive to normal vehicle movements
Solution Approach 1:
The evaluation criteria dynamically adapt based on the vehicle's movement characteristics. The system adjusts its assessment of whether detected movements constitute dangerous roll-over events by considering the pattern, duration, and progression of movements, allowing precise detection while filtering out normal driving variations.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors acceleration values throughout an intermediate evaluation phase, using feedback from ongoing measurements to confirm or dismiss potential roll-over events. This feedback mechanism ensures that precise detection of subtle movements does not trigger false alarms.
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
Enables early and reliable detection of potentially hazardous vehicle movements, allowing timely initiation of safety measures and reducing the risk of unnecessary activations, thereby enhancing occupant safety.
Implementation Method 1
A vehicle delay is typically determined by an acceleration sensor which monitors the acceleration of the vehicle in the direction of travel
Implementation Method 2
The angular speed of the vehicle about its longitudinal axis and the lateral and vertical acceleration of the vehicle are usually measured for the determination of the rolling or rollover movement
Implementation Method 3
The angle of roll or of rotation of the vehicle is determined by a numeric integration of the rolling rate or of the angular speed
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a method of evaluating a movement of a motor vehicle, in particular of a vehicle movement influencing the safety of vehicle occupants, in which the acceleration of the vehicle in at least one linear direction, in particular in the direction of a vehicle axis, is measured a multiple of times, the time change of the vehicle acceleration in the at least one linear direction is determined and the determined time change of the vehicle acceleration in the at least one linear direction is taken into account in the evaluation of the vehicle movement. The invention furthermore relates to a method of activating a vehicle safety system and to an apparatus for the evaluation of a movement of a motor vehicle.