EP-4739557-A1 - VEHICLE SYSTEM, METHOD FOR OPERATING A VEHICLE SYSTEM AND VEHICLE COMPRISING VEHICLE SYSTEM

Abstract

A vehicle system (S) and method of a vehicle (V). The vehicle system comprises one or more door structures (1) movably arranged relative to a body structure (B) of the vehicle between a closed door position (Pc) and open door positions (Po). The one or more door structures are configured for providing access to an interior compartment (2) of the vehicle. The vehicle system comprises a precipitation detection unit configured for detecting a precipitation condition at a location of the vehicle, and a wind determining unit configured for determining a wind direction at the location. Upon detection of the precipitation condition at the location by the precipitation detection unit and determination of the wind direction at the location of the vehicle by the wind determining unit, a vehicle activity based on the detected precipitation condition and the determined wind direction is initiated. The initiated vehicle activity is limiting precipitation from entering the interior compartment of the vehicle when at least one of the one or more door structures is arranged in an open door position.

Inventors

• LINDBERG NILSSON, Erik
• JOHANSSON, Jonathan

Assignees

• Zhejiang Geely Holding Group Co., Ltd.
• Ningbo Geely Automobile Research & Development Co., Ltd.

Dates

Publication Date

20260513

Application Date

20240625

Claims (17)

1. A vehicle system (S) of a vehicle (V) , wherein the vehicle system (S) comprises one or more door structures (1) movably arranged relative to a body structure (B) of the vehicle (V) between a closed door position (P C ) and open door positions (P O ) , wherein the one or more door structures (1) are configured for providing access to an interior compartment (2) of the vehicle (V) , wherein the vehicle system (S) comprises a precipitation detection unit (U PD ) configured for detecting a precipitation condition (C P ) at a location (L) of the vehicle (V) , and a wind determining unit (U WD ) configured for determining a wind direction (D W ) at the location (L) , wherein upon detection of the precipitation condition (C P ) at the location (L) by the precipitation detection unit (U PD ) and determination of the wind direction (D W ) at the location (L) of the vehicle (V) by the wind determining unit (U WD ) , a vehicle activity (A V ) based on the detected precipitation condition (C P ) and the determined wind direction (D W ) is initiated, wherein the initiated vehicle activity (A V ) is limiting precipitation from entering the interior compartment (2) of the vehicle (V) when at least one of the one or more door structures (1) is arranged in an open door position (P O ) .
2. The vehicle system (S) according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle system (S) further comprises a vehicle positioning unit (U VP ) , wherein the vehicle activity (A V ) is related to positioning of the vehicle (V) at the location (L) , wherein vehicle positioning unit (U VP ) is configured for stopping the vehicle (V) at the location (L) upon the initiated vehicle activity (A V ) with a vehicle side (S V ) positioned as a leeward side (S L ) of the vehicle (V) in relation to the determined wind direction (D W ) at the location (L) , wherein the vehicle system (S) is configured for enabling displacement of one or more door structures (1) arranged on the leeward side (S L ) of the vehicle (V) from the closed door position (P C ) to an open door position (P O ) .
3. The vehicle system (S) according to claim 2, wherein the vehicle positioning unit (U VP ) is configured for stopping the vehicle (V) at the location (L) upon the initiated vehicle activity (A V ) with the leeward side (S L ) of the vehicle (V) facing a road curb side (S RC ) .
4. The vehicle system (S) according to any preceding claim, wherein the vehicle system (S) comprises a door positioning unit (U DP ) , wherein the vehicle activity (A V ) is related to positioning of at least one of the one or more door structures (1) by means of the door positioning unit (U DP ) , wherein the door positioning unit (U DP ) is configured for arranging at least one of the one or more door structures (1) into a predetermined door opening position (P OPD ) upon the initiated vehicle activity (A V ) .
5. The vehicle system (S) according to claim 4, wherein the precipitation detection unit (U PD ) further is configured for detecting a precipitation intensity amount (A PI ) upon detection of the precipitation condition (C P ) at the location (L) , wherein the predetermined door opening position (P OPD ) is depending on the detected precipitation intensity amount (A PI ) .
6. The vehicle system (S) according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the wind determining unit (U WD ) further is configured for detecting a wind speed (S W ) at the location (L) , wherein the predetermined door opening position (P OPD ) is depending on the wind speed (S W ) .
7. The vehicle system (S) according to any of claims 4 to 6, wherein the vehicle system (S) further comprises a passenger detection unit (U PA ) configured for determining a number of passengers exiting and/or entering the vehicle (V) , wherein the predetermined door opening position (P OPD ) is depending on the detected number of passengers exiting and/or entering the vehicle (V) .
8. The vehicle system (S) according to any preceding claim, wherein the location (L) is a predetermined destination (D DP ) of the vehicle (V) .
9. A method for operating a vehicle system (S) of a vehicle (V) , wherein the vehicle system (S) comprises one or more door structures (1) movably arranged relative to a body structure (B) of the vehicle (V) between a closed door position (P C ) and open door positions (P O ) , wherein the one or more door structures (1) are configured for providing access to an interior compartment (2) of the vehicle (V) , wherein the vehicle system (S) comprises a precipitation detection unit (U PD ) configured for detecting a precipitation condition (C P ) at a location (L) of the vehicle (V) , wherein the vehicle system (S) comprises a wind determining unit (U WD ) configured for determining a wind direction (D W ) at the location (L) , wherein the method comprises the steps: detecting the precipitation condition (C P ) at the location (L) by the precipitation detection unit (U PD ) ; determining the wind direction (D W ) at the location (L) by the wind determining unit (U WD ) ; initiating a vehicle activity (A V ) based on the detected precipitation condition (C P ) and the determined wind direction (D W ) , wherein the initiated vehicle activity (A V ) is limiting precipitation from entering the interior compartment (2) of the vehicle (V) when at least one of the one or more door structures (1) is arranged in an open door position (P O ) .
10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the vehicle activity (A V ) is related to positioning of the vehicle (V) at the location (L) , wherein the method further comprises the steps: stopping the vehicle (V) at the location (L) upon the initiated vehicle activity (A V ) with a vehicle side (S V ) positioned as a leeward side (S L ) of the vehicle (V) in relation to the determined wind direction (D W ) at the location (L) ; enabling displacement of one or more door structures (1) arranged on the leeward side (S L ) of the vehicle (V) from the closed door position (P C ) to an open door position (P O ) .
11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the method further comprises the step: stopping the vehicle (V) at the location (L) upon the initiated vehicle activity (A V ) with the leeward side (S L ) of the vehicle (V) facing a road curb side (S RC ) .
12. The method according to any of claims 9 to 11, wherein the vehicle system (S) comprises a door positioning unit (U DP ) , wherein the vehicle activity (A V ) is related to positioning of at least one of the one or more door structures (1) , wherein the method further comprises the step: arranging at least one of the one or more door structures (1) into a predetermined door opening position (P OPD ) upon the initiated vehicle activity (A V ) by means of the door positioning unit (U DP ) .
13. The method according to claim 12, wherein the precipitation detection unit (U PD ) further is configured for detecting a precipitation intensity amount (A PI ) upon detection of the precipitation condition (C P ) at the location (L) , wherein the method further comprises the step: arranging at least one of the one or more door structures (1) into the predetermined door opening position (P OPD ) , wherein the predetermined door opening position (P OPD ) is depending on the detected precipitation intensity amount (A PI ) .
14. The method according to claim 12 or 13, wherein the wind determining unit (U WD ) further is configured for detecting a wind speed (S W ) at the location (L) , wherein the method further comprises the step: arranging at least one of the one or more door structures (1) into the predetermined door opening position (P OPD ) , wherein the predetermined door opening position (P OPD ) is depending on the wind speed (S W ) .
15. The method according to any of claims 12 to 14, wherein the vehicle system (S) further comprises a passenger detection unit (U PA ) configured for determining a number of passengers exiting and/or entering the vehicle (V) , wherein the method further comprises the step: arranging at least one of the one or more door structures (1) into a predetermined door opening position (P OPD ) , wherein the predetermined door opening position (P OPD ) is depending on the detected number of passengers exiting and/or entering the vehicle (V) .
16. The method according to any of claims 9 to 15, wherein the location (L) is a predetermined destination (D DP ) of the vehicle (V) , wherein the method further comprises the steps: driving the vehicle (V) to the predetermined destination (D DP ) ; and initiating the vehicle activity (A V ) at the predetermined destination (D DP ) .
17. A vehicle comprising the vehicle system (S) according to any of claims 1 to 8.

Description

VEHICLE SYSTEM, METHOD FOR OPERATING A VEHICLE SYSTEM AND VEHICLE COMPRISING VEHICLE SYSTEM TECHNICAL FIELD The present disclosure relates to a vehicle system comprising one or more door structures movably arranged relative to a body structure of the vehicle between a closed door position and open door positions. The one or more door structures are configured for providing access to an interior compartment of the vehicle. The system is configured for limiting precipitation, such as rain, snow, sleet, and/or hail, from entering the interior compartment of the vehicle. The disclosure further relates to a method for operating a vehicle system and a vehicle comprising the vehicle system. BACKGROUND Modern vehicles are often designed with large vehicle door structures and large door openings in body structures providing efficient access to interior compartments of the vehicles. Sometimes, the vehicles comprise door structures that almost open up a whole side of the vehicles. Such vehicles may be used in vehicle fleet systems, where the vehicles are operated autonomously or semi-autonomously for transporting occupants or passengers with high frequency. When the door structures are opened frequently, there is a risk that the interior compartments of the vehicles become wet and dirty due to precipitation, such as rain, snow, sleet, and/or hail, entering the large door openings. This may cause problems for the passengers of the vehicles due to wet and dirty interior compartments, and for the vehicle owners due to high needs for cleaning the vehicles. Another issue is the problem with the climate system of the vehicles that need a high amount of energy for removing all humidity within the interior compartments. There is thus a need for vehicle systems that are limiting the amount of precipitation entering the interior compartment of the vehicles. SUMMARY An object of the present disclosure is to provide a vehicle system, a method for operating a vehicle system, and a vehicle comprising the vehicle system, where the previously mentioned problems are avoided. This object is at least partly achieved by the features of the independent claims. The dependent claims contain further developments of the vehicle system and the method for operating a vehicle system. The disclosure concerns a vehicle system of a vehicle. The vehicle system comprises one or more door structures movably arranged relative to a body structure of the  vehicle between a closed door position and open door positions. The one or more door structures are configured for providing access to an interior compartment of the vehicle. The vehicle system comprises a precipitation detection unit configured for detecting a precipitation condition at a location of the vehicle, and a wind determining unit configured for determining a wind direction at the location. Upon detection of the precipitation condition at the location by the precipitation detection unit and determination of the wind direction at the location of the vehicle by the wind determining unit, a vehicle activity based on the detected precipitation condition and the determined wind direction is initiated. The initiated vehicle activity is limiting precipitation from entering the interior compartment of the vehicle when at least one of the one or more door structures is arranged in an open door position. Advantages with these features are that by detecting the precipitation condition, such as presence of rain, snow, sleet, and/or hail, and determining the wind direction at the location, the vehicle system can take measures limiting precipitation from entering the interior compartment of the vehicle when at least one of the one or more door structures is arranged in the open door position. The vehicle system is thus recognizing a precipitation condition, in which area the precipitation condition is occurring, and the wind direction at the location, and based on these input parameters, the vehicle system is able to determine a suitable vehicle activity. Through the vehicle activity, precipitation is limited from entering the interior compartment of the vehicle when at least one of the one or more door structures is arranged in the open door position. When the one or more door structures are opened frequently, there is a risk that the interior compartment of the vehicle becomes wet and dirty due to precipitation entering the door openings, and the vehicle activity is limiting this risk. By initiating the vehicle activity, the passengers of the vehicle are less likely to enter a wet and dirty interior compartment, and the amount of cleaning of the interior compartment can be reduced. Further, the initiated vehicle activity is reducing the amount of energy needed for removing humidity within the interior compartment. In one embodiment, the vehicle system further comprises a vehicle positioning unit. The vehicle activity is related to positioning of the vehicle at the location. The vehicle positioni