DEVICE AND METHOD FOR ASSESSING ACCIDENT RISKS TO A MOVING VEHICLE

• US 20150161892A1
• Filed: 06/26/2013
• Published: 06/11/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 07/02/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Scania CV AB (Volkswagen AG)
• Original Assignee: Scania CV AB (Volkswagen AG)
• Inventors: Oremus, Bas
• Granted Patent: US 9,812,016 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 5/006 indicating risk of collision between vehicles or with pedestrians
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/301 combining image information with other obstacle sensor information, e.g. using RADAR/LIDAR/SONAR sensors for estimating risk of collision
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/143 Alarm means
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2420/403 Image sensing, e.g. optical camera
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2420/408 Radar; Laser, e.g. lidar
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2555/00 Input parameters relating to exterior conditions, not covered by groups B60W2552/00, B60W2554/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/08 Active safety systems predicting or avoiding probable or impending collision or attempting to minimise its consequences
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/095 Predicting travel path or likelihood of collision
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/0953 the prediction being responsive to vehicle dynamic parameters
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/14 Means for informing the driver, warning the driver or prompting a driver intervention
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/16 Anti-collision systems road vehicle drive control systems for predicting or avoiding probable or impending collision otherwise than by control of a particular sub-unit B60W30/08
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/165 for passive traffic, e.g. including static obstacles, trees
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/166 for active traffic, e.g. moving vehicles, pedestrians, bikes

Abstract

A method for assessing accident risks to a moving vehicle (100; 110) includes continuously monitoring (s410) a surroundings configuration while the vehicle (100; 110) is in motion, continuously determining (s420) running characteristics for the vehicle (100; 110), continuously registering (s430) the surroundings configuration in order to create and provide an idea about chosen characteristics of the surroundings passed by the vehicle using the running characteristics and the idea as a basis for assessing (s440) accident risks related to the surroundings passed by the vehicle (100; 110). Also a computer program product includes program code (P) for a computer (200; 210) for implementing the method. Also the device and a vehicle equipped with the device.

Claims

1. A method for assessing accident risks to a moving vehicle comprising the steps of:

continuously monitoring a surroundings configuration of said vehicle while said vehicle is in motion;

continuously registering said surroundings configuration in order to create and provide an idea about chosen characteristics of said surroundings passed by said vehicle;

continuously determining running characteristics of said vehicle; and

using said running characteristics and said idea as a basis for assessing accident risks of said vehicle related to said surroundings passed by said vehicle.

4. A method according to claim 1, further comprising presenting accident risks of said vehicle for an operator of the vehicle.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein said chosen characteristics of said surroundings passed by the vehicle comprise locations and configurations of fixed objects in said surroundings.

14. A computer program product for assessing accident risks to a moving vehicle, comprising a computer program code stored on a computer-readable medium for causing an electronic control unit or another computer connected to the electronic control unit to perform method steps according to claim 1 when said program is run on an electronic control unit or another computer connected to said electronic control unit.

2. A method according to claim 2, in which said assessing comprises taking configurations of said vehicle into account.

3. A method according to claim 2, in which said running characteristics comprise future movement paths.

6. A device for assessing accident risks to a moving vehicle comprising:

means for continuously monitoring a configuration of surroundings of said vehicle while said vehicle is in motion;

means for continuously registering said surroundings configuration in order to create and provide an idea about chosen characteristics of said surroundings passed by said vehicle;

means for continuously determining running characteristics of said vehicle; and

means for using said running characteristics and said idea as a basis for assessing accident risks related to said surroundings passed by said vehicle.

7. A device according to claim 6, wherein said means for assessing accident risks are configured for taking vehicle configurations into account.

8. A device according to claim 6, wherein said running characteristics comprise future movement paths of said vehicle.

9. A device according to claim 6, further comprising means for presenting accident risks of said vehicle for an operator of said vehicle.

10. A device according to claim 6, wherein said chosen characteristics of said surroundings passed by said vehicle comprise locations and configurations of fixed objects in said surroundings.

11. A vehicle provided with a device according to claim 6.

12. A vehicle according to claim 11, wherein said vehicle is any from among a truck, bus or car.

13. (canceled)