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DE-102024210834-A1 - Procedure for detecting minor damage to a vehicle

DE102024210834A1DE 102024210834 A1DE102024210834 A1DE 102024210834A1DE-102024210834-A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for detecting minor damage to a vehicle (1) using a central control unit (12) in which an internal sensor (14) is arranged, and an evaluation and control unit (20), wherein direction-dependent sensor data are continuously received from the internal sensor (14) and processed and evaluated as needed, wherein at least one feature is calculated based on the direction-dependent sensor data or the processed direction-dependent sensor data, wherein an impact zone (AZ) and an impact angle (AW) are estimated based on the at least one calculated feature, wherein at least one threshold value is specified based on the estimated impact zone (AZ) and the estimated impact angle (AW), wherein the at least one calculated feature and/or the direction-dependent sensor data and/or the processed direction-dependent sensor data are compared with the at least one threshold value, wherein an external impact on the vehicle (1) and a corresponding minor damage are detected if the at least one calculated feature and/or the direction-dependent sensor data and/or the processed direction-dependent sensor data exceed at least one predetermined threshold and fall below a trigger threshold of restraint devices of an occupant protection system of the vehicle (1), as well as a control unit arrangement (10) for a vehicle (1).

Inventors

  • Simon Koenig
  • Jorge Juan Robles

Assignees

  • Robert Bosch Gesellschaft mit beschränkter Haftung

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20241112

Claims (16)

  1. Method (100) for detecting minor damage to a vehicle (1) using a central control unit (12) in which at least one internal sensor (14) is arranged, and an evaluation and control unit (20), wherein direction-dependent sensor data (SDx, SDy, SDz) are continuously received (S100) from the at least one internal sensor (14) and processed and evaluated as required, wherein at least one feature is calculated based on the direction-dependent sensor data (SDx, SDy, SDz) or the processed direction-dependent sensor data (SDx, SDy, SDz), wherein an impact zone (AZ) and an impact angle (AW) are estimated based on the at least one calculated feature, wherein at least one threshold value is specified based on the estimated impact zone (AZ) and the estimated impact angle (AW), wherein the at least one calculated feature and/or the direction-dependent sensor data (SDx, SDy, SDz) and/or the processed Direction-dependent sensor data (SDx, SDy, SDz) are compared with at least one threshold value, whereby an external influence on the vehicle (1) and a corresponding minor damage are detected if the at least one calculated feature and/or the direction-dependent sensor data (SDx, SDy, SDz) and/or the processed direction-dependent sensor data (SDx, SDy, SDz) exceed the at least one predetermined threshold value and fall below a trigger threshold of restraint means of an occupant protection system of the vehicle (1).
  2. Procedure (100) according to Claim 1 , characterized in that for the processing of the direction-dependent sensor data (SDx, SDy, SDz) a moving signal mean calculation and/or a moving signal energy mean calculation and/or a filtering to smooth the direction-dependent sensor data (SDx, SDy, SDz) is performed.
  3. Procedure (100) according to Claim 1 or 2 , characterized in that within a sliding window a first direction vector (AVx), which represents a signal energy in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle (x), and/or a second direction vector (AVy), which represents a signal energy in the transverse direction of the vehicle (y), and/or a third direction vector (AVz), which represents a signal energy in the vertical direction of the vehicle (z), are calculated as features of the direction-dependent sensor data (SDx, SDy, SDz), wherein, based on the three direction vectors (AVx, AVy, AVz), a resulting impact vector (AV) and a Euclidean distance (IAVI) of the impact vector (AV) are calculated as further features of the direction-dependent sensor data (SDx, SDy, SDz).
  4. Procedure (100) according to Claim 3 , characterized in that, based on the first direction vector (AVx) and the second direction vector (AVy), at least one first angle (W1) in an xy-plane of the vehicle (1) is estimated, which is used as the impact angle (AW) in the event of a frontal impact, a rear impact or a side impact.
  5. Procedure (100) according to Claim 4 , characterized in that, based on the third direction vector (AVz) and the Euclidean distance (IAVI), a second angle (W2) is estimated, which is additionally used in the event of damage to the underbody or roof of the vehicle (1).
  6. Procedure (100) according to one of the Claims 1 until 5 , characterized in that additionally sensor data (SD) from at least one peripheral sensor (16) arranged in the area of an outer skin (3) of the vehicle (1) are continuously received and, if necessary, processed and evaluated to estimate the impact zone (AZ) and the impact angle (AW).
  7. Procedure (100) according to one of the Claims 1 until 6 , characterized in that additional information available in the vehicle (1) about a current vehicle state (FZ) and/or about a current operating state (BZ) and/or about a current vehicle environment (FU) is provided and evaluated.
  8. Procedure (100) according to Claim 1 and 7 , characterized in that, based on the at least one calculated feature and/or the direction-dependent sensor data (SDx, SDy, SDz) and/or the processed direction-dependent sensor data (SDx, SDy, SDz) and/or the additional information available in the vehicle (1), a dynamic behavior of the vehicle is estimated and a corresponding dynamic index is assigned to it and this is used to adjust the at least one threshold value.
  9. Procedure (100) according to one of the Claims 1 until 8 , characterized in that the at least one calculated feature and/or the direction-dependent sensor data (SDx, SDy, SDz) and/or the processed direction-dependent sensor data (SDx, SDy, SDz) are filtered with different frequencies before the threshold comparison.
  10. Procedure (100) according to one of the Claims 1 until 9 , characterized in that the external impact on the vehicle (1) and the corresponding minor damage are stored and/or displayed internally and/or externally.
  11. Control unit arrangement (10) for a vehicle (1), comprising at least one central control unit (12) in which at least one internal sensor (14) is arranged, and at least one evaluation and control unit (20) which is configured, in addition to a method for activating restraint devices, to include the method (100) for detecting minor damage to a vehicle (1) according to one of the Claims 1 until 10 to execute and receive direction-dependent sensor data (SDx, SDy, SDz) from the at least one internal sensor (14) and evaluate it to detect an external influence on the vehicle (1).
  12. Control unit arrangement (10) according Claim 11 , characterized in that at least one peripheral sensor (16) is arranged in the area of an outer skin (3) of the vehicle (1), wherein the at least one evaluation and control unit (20) is further designed to receive sensor data (SD) from the at least one peripheral sensor (16) and to evaluate it for the purpose of detecting an external influence on the vehicle (1).
  13. Control unit arrangement (10) according Claim 11 or 12 , characterized in that the at least one internal sensor (14) is designed as an accelerometer or as a gyroscope.
  14. Control unit arrangement (10) according Claim 12 or 13 , characterized in that the at least one peripheral sensor (16) is designed as an acceleration sensor or as a pressure sensor.
  15. Control unit arrangement (10) according to one of the Claims 11 until 14 , characterized in that the at least one evaluation and control unit (20) is arranged in the central control unit (12).
  16. Control unit arrangement (10) according to one of the Claims 11 until 15 , characterized in that the at least one central control unit (12) comprises a communication device which is configured to receive additional information available in the vehicle (1) about a current vehicle state and/or about a current operating state and/or about a vehicle environment and/or to establish a wireless communication connection (32) to an external cloud service (30).

Description

The invention relates to a method for detecting minor damage to a vehicle. The present invention also relates to a control unit arrangement for a vehicle, which is configured to perform the method for detecting minor damage to a vehicle. From the DE 10 2012 018 521 A1 A method and a device for damage detection in a motor vehicle comprising a control unit and at least one sensor device are known, in which the control unit evaluates, based on the sensor data transmitted from the at least one sensor device to the control unit, whether a damage event has occurred in or on the motor vehicle and, if so, generates a damage report. This allows damage to be clearly attributed to individual renters, particularly in the case of rental vehicles. From the DE 10 2021 209 257 B4 A device and a method for detecting damage to the outer shell of a vehicle are known. The vehicle is a specific type with specific vehicle data. Damage is classified into at least two groups. Damage in the first group is more severe than damage in the second group. An acceleration sensor and/or a yaw rate sensor determines the vehicle's acceleration and/or yaw rate. Damage in the first group is detected when the vehicle's acceleration exceeds a threshold value and/or when the vehicle's yaw rate exceeds a threshold value. The acceleration and/or yaw rate are compared with values learned for the specific vehicle type. Damage in the second group is detected when damage is identified based on the comparison with the learned values. Disclosure of the invention The method for detecting minor damage to a vehicle according to independent claim 1 and the control unit arrangement for a vehicle according to independent claim 11 each have the advantage that, in particular, minor impacts and/or collisions, i.e., accidents, minor damage, etc., can be detected on a vehicle both while driving and when the vehicle is parked. The "intensity" of the impact events addressed here is below the trigger threshold of restraint devices of a corresponding occupant protection system, which includes, for example, airbags, seat belt tensioners, etc. This means that, with embodiments of the inventive method for detecting damage to a vehicle, the accident detection capabilities of an occupant protection system installed in the vehicle can be specifically extended to include minor accidents or minor damage. This damage information, available almost in real time, can be used for the automated triggering of subsequent measures, which can provide added value for both fleet operators and vehicle users. For the implementation of the inventive method for detecting minor damage to a vehicle, hardware already installed in the vehicle, such as an airbag control unit, internal sensors and/or peripheral sensors, can be used. Embodiments of the present invention provide a method for detecting minor damage to a vehicle using a control unit in which at least one internal sensor is arranged, and an evaluation and control unit. Direction-dependent sensor data from the at least one internal sensor are continuously received and processed and evaluated as needed. Based on the direction-dependent sensor data or the processed direction-dependent sensor data, at least one feature is calculated. Based on the at least one calculated feature, an impact zone and an impact angle are estimated. Based on the estimated impact zone and the estimated impact angle, at least one threshold value is specified. The at least one calculated feature and/or the direction-dependent sensor data and/or the processed direction-dependent sensor data are compared with the at least one threshold value. In this process, an external influence on the vehicle and a corresponding minor damage are detected if at least one calculated feature and/or the direction-dependent sensor data and/or the processed direction-dependent sensor data exceed at least one predefined threshold and fall below a trigger threshold of restraint devices of an occupant protection system of the vehicle. Furthermore, a control unit arrangement for a vehicle is proposed, comprising at least one control unit in which at least one internal sensor is arranged, and at least one evaluation and control unit, which is implemented in addition to a method for activating restraints. to implement such a procedure for detecting minor damage to a vehicle and to receive direction-dependent sensor data from the at least one internal sensor and to evaluate it for the detection of an external influence on the vehicle. Embodiments of the inventive method for detecting damage to a vehicle operate in parallel with the method for activating restraint devices and utilize the same sensor data without interfering with the restraint activation method. Since the at least one predetermined threshold value is below the activation threshold of the restraint devices of the vehicle's occupant protection system, embodiments of the method for detecting minor damage to a vehicle can also detec