METHOD FOR OPERATING A MOTOR VEHICLE

• US 20170174212A1
• Filed: 12/14/2016
• Published: 06/22/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/2015
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: GUSSEN, Uwe, STEFAN, Frederic, ARNDT, Christoph
• Application Number:
  US15/378,703
• Publication Number:
  US 20170174212A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/18 including control of braking systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/30 including control of auxiliary equipment, e.g. air-conditioning compressors or oil pumps
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/143 Alarm means
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2420/403 Image sensing, e.g. optical camera
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2422/00 Indexing codes relating to the special location or mounting of sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/12 Brake pedal position
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2554/80 Spatial relation or speed relative to objects
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2554/803 Relative lateral speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2554/804 Relative longitudinal speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2555/60 Traffic rules, e.g. speed limits or right of way
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2754/30 Longitudinal distance
• 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 30/09 Taking automatic action to avoid collision, e.g. braking and steering
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/0956 the prediction being responsive to traffic or environmental parameters
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/18109 Braking
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/087 where the control system corrects or modifies a request from the driver
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/10 Interpretation of driver requests or demands
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/14 Means for informing the driver, warning the driver or prompting a driver intervention
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/162 event-triggered
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/166 for active traffic, e.g. moving vehicles, pedestrians, bikes

Abstract

The disclosure relates to a method for operating a first motor vehicle, in which rear sensor values are captured from a second motor vehicle following the first motor vehicle. A brake pedal of the first motor vehicle is monitored for actuation. A risk value for a rear end collision is determined in response to detected actuation by evaluating the captured sensor values. The risk value determined is compared with a threshold value, and an alarm signal is generated in response to the threshold value being exceeded.

Claims

1. A method for operating a first vehicle comprising:

capturing rear sensor values from a second vehicle following the first vehicle;

monitoring a brake pedal of the first motor vehicle for actuation;

determining a risk value for a rear end collision in response to detected actuation by evaluating the captured sensor values;

comparing the risk value with a threshold value; and

generating an alarm signal in response to the threshold value being exceeded.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising detecting the actuation using a foot well camera, wherein and the sensor values are captured in response to the actuation being detected.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1 further comprising:

determining a maximum braking distance of the following second vehicle from the sensor values to determine the risk value.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein generating the alarm signal is output acoustically and/or optically.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1 further comprising:

monitoring for a reaction from a driver in response to the alarm signal being output, and, in an absence of the reaction, generating a brake deactivation signal for releasing the brakes of the first vehicle.

6. The method as claimed in claim 1 further comprising:

generating a brake deactivation signal for releasing the brakes of the first vehicle in response to the alarm signal.

7. The method as claimed in claim 6 further comprising:

suppressing the brake deactivation signal responsive to a detected traffic situation being classified as unsuitable.

8. The method as claimed in claim 1 the first vehicle and the second vehicle are facing in a direction of travel, further comprising:

moving the first vehicle by a predetermined travel distance in the direction of travel in response to the alarm signal.

9. The method as claimed in claim 8 further comprising:

comparing the risk value with a second threshold value greater than the threshold value, and, in response to the second threshold value being exceeded, moving the first vehicle by a second travel distance in the direction of travel, the second travel distance being greater than the predetermined travel distance.

10. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein determining the risk value includes detecting and accounting for road conditions.

11. The method as claimed in claim 1 further comprising:

capturing and evaluating front sensor data using a front sensor system of the first vehicle.

12. The method as claimed in claim 11 further comprising:

capturing and evaluating traffic light signals with the front sensor system and, in response to a detected traffic light signal, generating a driving signal.

13. A vehicle comprising:

a pedal actuation detection device configured to detect actuation of a brake pedal;

a rear sensor assembly configured to capture sensor values from a second vehicle following a first vehicle; and

an evaluation device configured to determine a risk value for a rear end collision based on the captured sensor values, compare the determined risk value with a threshold value, and, in response to the threshold value being exceeded, generate an alarm signal.

14. The vehicle of claim 13 further comprising a front sensor assembly configured to capture traffic light signals such that the evaluation device, in response to a detected traffic light signal, is configured to generate a driving signal.

15. The vehicle of claim 14, wherein the evaluation device is further configured to, in response to the driving signal, move the first vehicle by a predetermined travel distance in a direction of travel.

16. The vehicle of claim 13, wherein the captured sensor values include detected road conditions to determine the risk value.

17. The vehicle of claim 13, wherein the evaluation device is further configured to compare the risk value determined with a second threshold value greater than the threshold value, and, in response to the second threshold value being exceeded, move the first vehicle by a predetermined travel distance in a direction of travel.

18. A control system for a vehicle comprising:

an evaluation device configured to, in response to a risk value, based on captured sensor values from a second vehicle following a first vehicle, exceeding a threshold and a brake pedal actuation determined from the captured sensor values, generate an alarm signal.

19. The control system of claim 18, wherein the evaluation device is further configured to, in response to the alarm signal being output, monitor a reaction of a driver and, in an absence of the reaction, generate a brake deactivation signal to release the brakes of the first vehicle.

20. The control system of claim 18, wherein the evaluation device is further configured to, in response to the alarm signal being output, move the vehicle by a predetermined travel distance in a direction of travel.