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DE-102024132949-A1 - Warning a vehicle user in the event of an unintentionally moving vehicle.

DE102024132949A1DE 102024132949 A1DE102024132949 A1DE 102024132949A1DE-102024132949-A1

Abstract

A method for warning a user of a vehicle (11) in the event of a means of transport moving away from the vehicle (11) is described. The method comprises the following steps: activating the method (1); detecting and classifying objects located in the vicinity of the vehicle (11) (2); if an object classified as a means of transport has been detected, checking whether the ground in the vicinity of the vehicle (11) has a slope above a specified limit (3); if the slope of the ground is above the specified limit, tracking the movement of the detected object classified as a means of transport (4); if the detected object classified as a means of transport moves towards the vehicle (11) and its movement is subsequently stopped (5), checking whether the object classified as a means of transport is moving in the direction of the slope of the ground and whether the movement exhibits at least one specified property (6); if the object classified as a means of transport moves in the direction of the slope of the ground and the movement has at least one specified characteristic (6), issuing a warning signal to the user (7).

Inventors

  • Paul Jamnicki

Assignees

  • FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20241112

Claims (16)

  1. Method for warning a user of a vehicle (11) in the event of a means of transport moving away from the vehicle (11), characterized in that the method comprises the following steps: - Activating the method (1), - Detecting and classifying objects located in the vicinity of the vehicle (11) (2), - if an object classified as a means of transport has been detected, checking whether the ground in the vicinity of the vehicle (11) has a gradient that is above a defined limit (3), - if the gradient of the ground is above the defined limit, tracking the movement of the detected object classified as a means of transport (4), - if the detected object classified as a means of transport moves towards the vehicle (11) and its movement is subsequently stopped (5), checking whether the object classified as a means of transport is moving in the direction of the gradient of the ground and whether the movement has at least one defined property (6), - if the object classified as a means of transport is moving in the direction of the gradient of the The surface is moved and the movement has at least one defined property (6), issuing a warning signal to the user (7).
  2. Procedure according to Claim 1 , characterized in that the activation of the procedure (1) takes place when at least one predefined condition is met.
  3. Procedure according to Claim 2 , characterized in that the activation of the procedure (1) takes place when the vehicle (11) is stationary and/or in a parked state and/or when the user of the vehicle (11) is within a predetermined distance of the vehicle.
  4. Procedure according to one of the Claims 1 until 3 , characterized in that the detection (2) and tracking (4) of objects located in the vicinity of the vehicle (11) takes place within a defined distance from the vehicle (11).
  5. Procedure according to one of the Claims 1 until 4 , characterized in that the detection (2) and tracking (4) and/or classification (2) of objects located in the vicinity of the vehicle (11) is carried out by means of at least one sensor (13).
  6. Procedure according to one of the Claims 1 until 5 characterized by the fact that the center of gravity of the object classified as a means of transport is estimated and a movement of the center of gravity is tracked.
  7. Procedure according to one of the Claims 1 until 6 , characterized in that the at least one defined property of the motion of the object classified as a means of transport includes the speed and/or the acceleration of a translational motion and/or a rotational motion of the object and/or a motion of the center of gravity of the object.
  8. Procedure according to one of the Claims 1 until 7 , characterized in that the emission of the warning signal is terminated (9) when the object classified as a means of transport has been brought to a standstill or is outside a specified distance from the vehicle (11) or the direction and/or acceleration of the movement of the object changes (8).
  9. Procedure according to one of the Claims 1 until 8 , characterized in that the procedure is terminated and/or deactivated (9) when it has been detected that the ground does not have a gradient above the limit value (3) and/or the object classified as a means of transport is not moving in the direction of a detected gradient (6) and/or when the object classified as a means of transport has been brought to a standstill or is outside a specified distance from the vehicle (11) (8).
  10. Procedure according to one of the Claims 1 until 9 , characterized in that the warning signal includes an audio signal and/or a visual signal and/or at least one feature of the warning signal changes depending on at least one feature of the movement of the object.
  11. Driver assistance device (12) for a vehicle (11), wherein the driver assistance device (12) comprises at least one device (13, 14) for detecting, classifying and tracking objects located in the vicinity of the vehicle and a device (15) for issuing a warning signal to a user, characterized in that the driver assistance device (12) is used to carry out a method according to one of the Claims 1 until 10 is trained.
  12. vehicle (11) which is equipped with a driver assistance device (12) according to Claim 11 includes or for the implementation of a procedure under one of the Claims 1 until 10 is trained.
  13. Computer-implemented method, comprising instructions that, when executed by a computer, cause it to perform a procedure according to one of the Claims 1 until 10 to execute.
  14. Computer program product, comprising instructions which, when executed by a computer, cause the program to perform a procedure according to one of the Claims 1 until 10 to execute.
  15. Computer-readable data carrier on which the computer program product is stored. Claim 14 is stored.
  16. Data carrier signal that the computer program product after Claim 14 transfers.

Description

The present invention relates to a method for warning a vehicle user in the event that the user's means of transport unintentionally move away from or away from the vehicle. The invention also relates to a driver assistance device and a vehicle. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a computer-implemented method, a computer program product, a computer-readable data carrier, and a data carrier signal. Vehicles, especially motor vehicles, but also cargo bikes or e-bikes, are frequently used by users in everyday life to transport objects, particularly groceries, but also children, people with mobility impairments, or pets. A typical situation arises where the vehicle is initially parked, and the user later returns to the vehicle with a shopping cart and/or other means of transport, such as strollers or pet carriers, or is traveling with a person in a wheelchair or walker, and wants to load objects, e.g., groceries, or children, people with mobility impairments, or pets from the respective means of transport into the vehicle. Often, in such a situation, the individuals or users do not have a free hand to open the vehicle and simultaneously secure the means of transport. To facilitate or assist users, automatic vehicle door openers, especially tailgate openers and/or keyless entry systems, are well-known. Examples of these are in DE 10 2017 102 945 A1 described. However, if the vehicle is parked on a sloped parking lot, there remains a risk that it may roll away unintentionally while objects or people are being loaded or stowed. Inattentiveness on the part of the user can lead to dangerous and/or damaging situations. For example, if a user is loading groceries into the vehicle and doesn't notice their shopping cart rolling away, the cart could collide with other vehicles or people, causing personal injury and/or property damage. A similar situation can occur if a child is being placed in the vehicle from a stroller and the stroller rolls away unnoticed, or if a person with limited mobility is being assisted from a wheelchair or walker into the vehicle and the wheelchair or walker rolls away unnoticed. To prevent a shopping cart from rolling away unnoticed, stoppers are used, which can be placed under one of the cart's wheels. This is described, for example, in the document DE 20 2005 003 390 U1 described as state of the art. Further solutions for attaching or fixing shopping carts or other means of transport to the vehicle being loaded are described in the documents. DE 20 2005 003 390 U1 , FR 2 896 210 A1 , described. In the document DE 10 2015 225 163 A1 A device for loading and unloading a vehicle is disclosed. The document DE 10 2020 100 496 A1 The document describes systems and procedures for recording vehicle damage events. DE 10 2021 203 056 A1 are a procedure and a warning device for warning a vehicle user of a dangerous situation. Against the background described above, the object of the present invention is to provide an advantageous method for warning a vehicle user in the event of a transport vehicle moving away from the vehicle. Further objects are to provide an advantageous driver assistance device, an advantageous vehicle, as well as a computer-implemented method, a computer program product, a computer-readable data carrier, and a data carrier signal. The aforementioned problems are solved by a method for warning a vehicle user in the event of a transport vehicle moving away from the vehicle according to claim 1, a driver assistance device according to claim 11, a vehicle according to claim 12, a computer-implemented method according to claim 13, a computer program product according to claim 14, a computer-readable data carrier according to claim 15, and a data carrier signal according to claim 16. The dependent claims contain further advantageous embodiments of the invention. The inventive method for warning a vehicle user in the event of a means of transport moving away from the vehicle, particularly moving away unintentionally, comprises the following steps: In a first step, the method is activated or started, preferably when the vehicle is stationary. In a second step, objects located in the vicinity of the vehicle, preferably stationary, are detected and classified. If an object classified as a means of transport has been detected, a third step checks whether the surface, for example, the roadway or parking lot, in the vicinity of the vehicle, preferably in its immediate vicinity, has a gradient that exceeds a defined threshold, such as a definable or predetermined limit. If the gradient of the surface exceeds the defined limit, a fourth step tracks the movement of the detected object classified as a means of transport. If the detected object classified as a means of transport was moved towards the vehicle and then stopped, i.e., if the object classified as a means of transport was stopped and parked, a fifth step checks whether the object classified as a means of transport is moving