Validating automotive safety functions

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016264115-A1
Application number	US-201415028733-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Oct 17, 2014
Priority date	Oct 17, 2013
Publication date	Sep 15, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

Methods and systems of validating a vehicle safety function. In one implementation, a plurality of vehicle safety function software programs are developed. A first one of the software programs is installed in a memory of a vehicle controller. The program is run on the controller without delivering at least one vehicle actuator output of the controller generated as a result of running the program. Activation data for the safety function is recorded and the steps of installing, running, and recording with a second one of the plurality of vehicle safety function software programs are repeated.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A method of validating a vehicle safety function of a vehicle safety system of a vehicle having at least one computer-implemented safety function, a vehicle controller, and one or more vehicle actuators, the method comprising:
developing a plurality of computer-executable, vehicle safety function software. programs; installing a first one of the plurality of computer-executable, vehicle safety function software programs in a memory of a vehicle controller; running the first one of the plurality of computer-executable, vehicle safety function software programs on the vehicle controller without delivering at least one vehicle actuator output of the controller generated as a result of running the first one of the plurality of computer-executable, vehicle safety function software programs; recording in a data logger where the at least one computer-controlled safety function would have activated a vehicle actuator, if the at least one vehicle actuator output of the controller would have been delivered to the one or more vehicle actuators; and repeating the steps of installing, running, and recording with a second one of the plurality of computer executable, vehicle safety function software programs.

2 . A method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of computer-executable, vehicle safety function software programs includes tunable parameters, the method further comprising setting the tunable parameters using a diagnostic command from a diagnostics tool.

3 . A method as claimed in claim 2 , further comprising encrypting the diagnostic commands.

4 . A method as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising selecting either the first or the second one of the plurality of computer-executable, vehicle safety function software programs for use in the vehicle safety system.

5 . A method as claimed in claim 4 , further comprising using a diagnostics command to select a computer-executable, vehicle safety function software program for use in a sensor.

6 . A method of validating a vehicle safety system, the method comprising:
recording in a data logger
activation data of a plurality of computer-executable, vehicle safety function software programs,
post-evaluation results for each of the plurality of computer-executable, vehicle safety function software programs,
vehicle information for activations of each of the plurality of computer-executable, vehicle safety function software programs, and
driver reaction information.

7 . A method as claimed in claim 6 , further comprising determining a number of false activations based on the activation data.

8 . A method as claimed in claim 7 , wherein GPS-coordinate information, odometer information, or both is used to determine a number of false activations.

9 . A method as claimed in claim 7 , further comprising selecting one of the plurality of computer-executable, vehicle safety function software programs for use in the vehicle safety system based on the number of false activations.

10 . A method of performing a post-evaluation of a sensor of a vehicle safety system, the method comprising:
recording activation data of the vehicle safety system in memory; determining whether a false activation has occurred; measuring a driver reaction after activation of the vehicle safety system; generating an evaluation based on whether a false activation occurred; and storing the evaluation with the activation data.

Assignees

• Bosch Gmbh Robert

Inventors

• Schwindt Oliver F
• Garcia Bordes Maria Eugenia
• Pelosse Jean-Francois
• Dechant Moritz

Classifications

• B60T2270/406

  Test-mode; Self-diagnosis · CPC title

• B60T8/885 Primary

  using electrical circuitry · CPC title

• B60T2210/36

  Global Positioning System [GPS] · CPC title