Emergency assistance system with acoustic external warning

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11091089-B2
Application number	US-202016938302-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 24, 2020
Priority date	Jul 24, 2019
Publication date	Aug 17, 2021
Grant date	Aug 17, 2021

Abstract

A method for operating a transportation vehicle that includes an emergency assistance system to issue a warning signal to the surroundings of the transportation vehicle based on a risk factor in the presence of initial indications of no longer sufficiently guaranteed human or technical control of the transportation vehicle.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An emergency assistance system for a transportation vehicle, the system comprising:
at least one speed sensor; and
at least one steering sensor,
wherein the emergency assistance system operatively connects a plurality of technical systems of the transportation vehicle to each other,
wherein the emergency assistance system examines the operational state of the transportation vehicle to recognize characteristics corresponding to at least an imminent loss of control of the transportation vehicle, determines a risk factor based on the recognized characteristics, and issues a warning signal to the surroundings of the transportation vehicle in response to the risk factor having a presumed minimum value, and
wherein the recognized characteristics include a comparison of a current reaction of a driver to stimuli compared to a previous behavioral profile of the driver that indicates that the current reaction of the driver is delayed.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the risk factor is determined based on additional factors that indicated increased risk in response to a loss of control over the transportation vehicle.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the presumed minimum value is set lower than when the presumed minimum value is set while taking into account the additional risk factors.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the additional factors are selected from the group comprising state or behavior of objects in the near field of the transportation vehicle, position of the transportation vehicle with regard to risky points of the route, state or behavior of objects on a planned route of the transportation vehicle.

5. The system of claim 4 , wherein a state or behavior of objects in the near field of the transportation vehicle is captured with environmental sensors of the transportation vehicle.

6. The system of claim 4 , wherein a position of the transportation vehicle is determined with regard to risk points of the route and/or a state or behavior of objects on a planned route of the transportation vehicle is determined from map material and/or swarm data.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the warning signal contains an acoustic warning signal or a visual warning signal.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the warning signal is activated before an automatic safety intervention takes place while the transportation vehicle is in a dynamic operating state.

9. A transportation vehicle comprising the emergency assistance system of claim 1 .

10. A method for the operation of a transportation vehicle, the method comprising:
examining the operational state of the transportation vehicle by an emergency assistance system to recognize characteristics corresponding to at least an imminent loss of control over the transportation vehicle;
determining a risk factor based on the recognized characteristics; and
issuing a warning signal to the surroundings of the transportation vehicle in response to the risk factor having a presumed minimum value, and
wherein the additional factors include a comparison of a current reaction of a driver to stimuli compared to a previous behavioral profile of the driver that indicates that the current reaction of the driver is delayed.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the risk factor is determined based on additional factors that indicated increased risk in response to a loss of control over the transportation vehicle.

12. The method of claim 10 , further comprising setting the presumed minimum value, wherein the presumed minimum value is set lower than when the presumed minimum value is set while taking into account the additional risk factors.

13. The method of claim 10 , further comprising selecting the additional factors from the group comprising state or behavior of objects in the near field of the transportation vehicle, position of the transportation vehicle with regard to risk points of the route, and state or behavior of objects on a planned route of the transportation vehicle.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein a state or behavior of objects in the near field of the transportation vehicle is captured with environmental sensors of the transportation vehicle.

15. The method of claim 13 , wherein a position of the transportation vehicle is determined with regard to risk points of the route and/or a state or behavior of objects on a planned route of the transportation vehicle is determined from map material and/or swarm data.

16. The method of claim 10 , wherein the warning signal contains an acoustic warning signal or a visual warning signal.

17. The method of claim 10 , wherein the warning signal is activated before an automatic safety intervention takes place while the transportation vehicle is in a dynamic operating state.

Assignees

• Volkswagen Ag

Inventors

• Eigel Thomas

Classifications

• B60Q1/46 Primary

  for giving flashing caution signals during drive, other than signalling change of direction, e.g. flashing the headlights {or hazard lights} · CPC title

• B60Q5/006

  indicating risk of collision between vehicles or with pedestrians · CPC title

• B60Q1/0088

  Details of electrical connections (B60Q1/305 takes precedence; electrical connection of the light source itself F21S41/192, F21S43/195) · CPC title

• B60Q9/008 Primary

  for anti-collision purposes · CPC title

• B60Q1/0023

  the element being a sensor, e.g. distance sensor, camera · CPC title