Method for Automatically Preventing Aquaplaning

• US 20130035836A1
• Filed: 01/22/2011
• Published: 02/07/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/17/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Continental Teves AG & Co. OHG (Continental AG), Conti Temic Microelectronic GmbH (Continental AG)
• Original Assignee: Continental Teves AG & Co. OHG (Continental AG), Conti Temic Microelectronic GmbH (Continental AG)
• Inventors: Mehr, Wilfried, Strauss, Matthias, Eckert, Alfred
• Granted Patent: US 9,493,145 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/71
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 2201/02 Active or adaptive cruise control system; Distance control
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 2210/12 Friction
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 2210/13 Aquaplaning, hydroplaning
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 2210/36 Global Positioning System [GPS]
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 2260/06 Active Suspension System
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 8/172 Determining control parameters used in the regulation, e.g. by calculations involving measured or detected parameters B60T8/17551 takes precedence

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for automatically preventing aquaplaning during the driving operation of a motor vehicle on a route, which method provides according to the invention that

• a) information relating to a section of the route and regarding the risk of aquaplaning is provided in the motor vehicle,
• b) at least one sensor device for determining a wet pavement is provided, and
• c) an assistance function for preventing aquaplaning is carried out if there is a section of the route having a risk of aquaplaning and if a wet pavement is detected.

Claims

1-15. -15. (canceled)

16. A method of automatically preventing aquaplaning during driving operation of a motor vehicle on a route, comprising the steps:

a) providing, in the motor vehicle, information relating to a section of the route and regarding a risk of aquaplaning, by carrying out a camera-based road sign recognition of a road sign that indicates aquaplaning,

b) providing at least one sensor device for determining a wet pavement, and

c) carrying out an assistance function for preventing aquaplaning if there is a section of the route having a risk of aquaplaning and if the wet pavement is detected.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein said sensor device comprises at least one of:

b1) a rain sensor,

b2) a sensor unit that evaluates windshield wiper activity,

b3) an aquaplaning sensor unit that evaluates vehicle-movement-dynamics vehicle data and vehicle state data for determining the wet pavement,

b4) an optical sensor that detects the pavement surface.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein said sensor device comprises said optical sensor, which comprises a camera.

19. The method according to claim 16, wherein the assistance function comprises at least one of:

c1) outputting a visual, acoustic and/or haptic warning of aquaplaning to a driver of the motor vehicle,

c2) adjusting a damping of a running gear of the motor vehicle by switching to a hard damping of the running gear,

c3) reducing the speed of the motor vehicle to a maximum limit value,

c4) adjusting an ABS system of the motor vehicle to make the ABS system more sensitive,

c5) adjusting a vehicle-movement-dynamics control system of the motor vehicle to make the vehicle-movement-dynamics control system more sensitive,

c6) adjusting an active speed control system.

20. The method according to claim 19, wherein the assistance function comprises said reducing of the speed of the motor vehicle, wherein the maximum limit value is 80 km/h.

21. The method according to claim 19, wherein the assistance function comprises said adjusting of the active speed control system, which is a cruise control (CC) system or an adaptive cruise control (ACC) system.

22. The method according to claim 19, wherein the assistance function comprises said adjusting of the active speed control system, which reduces a driving speed of the vehicle.

23. The method according to claim 22, wherein the driving speed of the vehicle is reduced to a speed that is mandatory or recommended for wet roads.

24. The method according to claim 19, wherein the assistance function comprises said adjusting of the active speed control system, which comprises switching off the active speed control system.

25. The method according to claim 24, further comprising informing a driver of the motor vehicle before switching off the active speed control system.

26. The method according to claim 19, wherein the assistance function parameterizes the vehicle-movement-dynamics control system such that wheels of the motor vehicle do not lock when there is an electronic request for braking power for individual wheels of the motor vehicle.

27. The method according to claim 16, wherein said carrying out of the assistance function comprises switching off a system for automatic longitudinal and lateral control of the motor vehicle.

28. The method according to claim 27, further comprising informing a driver of the motor vehicle before switching off the system for automatic longitudinal and lateral control of the motor vehicle.

29. The method according to claim 27, further comprising reducing a driving speed of the motor vehicle or bringing the motor vehicle to a complete stop if a driver of the motor vehicle does not manually carry out a lateral and longitudinal control of the motor vehicle.

30. The method according to claim 16, wherein the assistance function comprises forwarding to a driving motor of the motor vehicle, a deceleration request triggered by actuation of a brake pedal of the motor vehicle, and implementing the deceleration request such that wheels of the motor vehicle do not lock.

31. The method according to claim 16, wherein the assistance function receives an acceleration request triggered by actuation of an accelerator pedal of the motor vehicle, and the assistance function adjusts the acceleration request by implementing an acceleration of the motor vehicle with a lower value over a longer period of time in comparison to the acceleration request or by suppressing the acceleration request.

32. The method according to claim 16, wherein a driver of the motor vehicle can deactivate the assistance function at any time.

33. A method of automatically preventing or reducing aquaplaning of a motor vehicle while said motor vehicle is driving on a section of a roadway with a road sign along said section of said roadway, comprising:

a) using a sensor device, determining whether a roadway surface in said section of said roadway is wet and accordingly emitting a wetness signal;

b) using a camera, acquiring a camera image of said road sign along said section of said roadway;

c) evaluating said camera image to determine whether said road sign indicates a danger of aquaplaning; and

d) if said wetness signal indicates that said roadway surface in said section of said roadway is wet and said evaluating of said camera image determines that said road sign along said section of said roadway indicates said danger of aquaplaning, then automatically issuing an aquaplaning danger warning to a driver of the motor vehicle or automatically adjusting a driving operation of the motor vehicle to prevent or reduce a likelihood of aquaplaning of the motor vehicle.