Abstract: An example embodiment of the present disclosure relates to a method for monitoring the position of a connection cable of a trailer, having the steps of: capturing a region which lies behind a motor vehicle using a camera, processing the captured image data using an analysis unit, detecting the connection cable, and determining the position of the connection cable, comparing the captured position of the connection cable with a secure position of the connection cable, and outputting a warning signal if the captured position of the connection cable deviates from the secure position. Another example embodiment additionally relates to a camera system and to a motor vehicle including a camera system.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a driver assistance system for a vehicle. The driver assistance system has an operating mode detection unit and a signaling unit. The operating mode detection unit is configured to detect whether autonomous operation of the vehicle is possible for a road section and, in case autonomous operation of the vehicle is not possible, to generate a signal and/or message taking into account stored route use data and send it to the signaling unit. The signaling unit is configured to receive the signal and to generate signaling for the driver.

Abstract: An example embodiment of the present disclosure relates to a method for monitoring the position of a connection cable of a trailer, having the steps of: capturing a region which lies behind a motor vehicle using a camera, processing the captured image data using an analysis unit, detecting the connection cable, and determining the position of the connection cable, comparing the captured position of the connection cable with a secure position of the connection cable, and outputting a warning signal if the captured position of the connection cable deviates from the secure position. Another example embodiment additionally relates to a camera system and to a motor vehicle including a camera system.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for determining a visibility using a sensor unit, in particular a lidar sensor, including having the sensor unit emit a transmission signal, capturing a received signal backscattered by an object, determining the distance from the object using the received signal, and determining the visibility on the basis of the ascertained distance from the object and/or the strength of the received signal.

Abstract: The example embodiment(s) relates to a method for monitoring the position of a jockey wheel of a trailer, including sensing a region lying behind a motor vehicle by means of a camera, processing the sensed image data by means of an evaluation unit and identifying the jockey wheel, and determining the position of the jockey wheel, comparing the sensed position of the jockey wheel with a secured position of the jockey wheel, and outputting a warning signal if the sensed position of the jockey wheel deviates from the secured position. The example embodiment(s) further relates to a camera system and to a motor vehicle including a camera system according to the example embodiment(s).

Abstract: Various embodiments include a group of vehicles comprising: a following vehicle; and a leading vehicle following a trajectory. The following vehicle includes a driver assistance system providing autonomous tracking behind on a trajectory of the leading vehicle. The trajectory defines a target steering angle transmitted to the driver assistance system from the leading vehicle to the following vehicle. The following vehicle has an actual steering angle occurring as a result of executing the target steering angle. A detection device senses a steering angle deviation between the leading vehicle and the following vehicle. A processing unit generates a corrective actuating signal to correct the actual steering angle if there is a steering angle deviation.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the teachings herein include a vehicle configured to track behind autonomously in a group trailing a leading vehicle comprising: a communication device for receiving first and second vehicle-relevant data, the first vehicle-relevant data and the second vehicle-relevant data redundant to one another; a data transmitting interface for receiving the first vehicle-relevant data via a first wireless transmission medium; and a data receiving interface for receiving the second vehicle-relevant data via a second wireless transmission medium. The first wireless transmission medium is different from the second. The second comprises an optical connection. The data receiving interface receives during the autonomous tracking the second vehicle-relevant data directly from a vehicle in the group driving immediately ahead of the vehicle, and permanently parallel to the first vehicle-relevant data.

Abstract: An optical detection system for a vehicle having a detection region for recording a section of the surroundings. The optical detection system has an image receiver chip having a maximum number of pixels. During the recording of an image of the surroundings a number of pixels is active in a pixel region to be evaluated of the image receiver chip. The maximum number of pixels of the image receiver chip is greater than the number of pixels of the pixel region to be evaluated. The optical detection system detects a region lying behind the vehicle and is designed such that, if the tailgate is moved, the detection region remains substantially unchanged as a result of a change to the pixel region to be evaluated on the image receiver chip. A method for retaining a detection region of an optical detection system is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for charging a plurality of motor vehicles, in particular hybrid electric/electric vehicles, at a plurality of public charging stations, having the steps of: determining release times at which the respective charging stations are released for charging; determining arrival times at which the respective motor vehicles can arrive at the respective charging stations; calculating intervals of time between the respective determined release times and the respective determined arrival times as required waiting times for charging the respective motor vehicles at the respective charging stations; deciding, on the basis of the calculated waiting times, which of the charging stations will be approached by the respective motor vehicles for charging, with the proviso that an actual total waiting time, which forms a sum of actual waiting times for charging the respective motor vehicles at the respective charging stations, is minimized.

Abstract: A method for autonomously operating a following vehicle in a vehicle train together with a vehicle driving ahead of the following vehicle with respect to a direction of travel includes acquiring first route information with a front-mounted sensor. The method also includes operating the following vehicle on the basis of first route information and acquiring second route information with a rear-mounted sensor. The method further includes transmitting the second route information to the following vehicle and, when a substitute criterion is present, operating the following vehicle on the basis of the second route information.

Abstract: A lane change from a lane which is currently being travelled in by the motor vehicle to an adjacent lane is carried out autonomously if a recommendation to change the lane is output by a control device. The recommendation to change from a relatively fast lane to a slower lane is out-put by the control device if (1) a lane change is possible without putting at risk the motor vehicle and/or another vehicle travelling on the slower lane, (2) the motor vehicle is not being prevented from travelling at a predefined speed by another vehicle travelling ahead in the lane which is currently being travelled in, and (3) no other vehicle which is travelling at a higher speed than the speed of the motor vehicle is detected in the slower lane at a specific distance behind the motor vehicle.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a control system and to a device for an ego-vehicle in a vehicle convoy in the case of the avoidance of an obstacle. Before the ego-vehicle follows an adopted avoidance trajectory of a vehicle driving in front, a hazard evaluation of the driving strategy of the vehicle driving in front is performed and the avoidance trajectory is modified on the basis of the result of the hazard evaluation.

Abstract: An environment detection device for a vehicle is includes a sensor unit for determining environment information of a surrounding area of the vehicle itself, with a temperature measurement unit, configured to measure at least one state temperature of the sensor unit, and with a controller, configured to trigger at least one action for reducing the state temperature if a prescribed temperature warning value is exceeded.

Abstract: A method for automatically controlling a direction of travel indicator of a vehicle having the following steps: receiving a signal for the chronologically limited activation of the direction of travel indicator, chronologically limited activation of the direction of travel indicator after reception of the signal for the chronologically limited activation of the direction of travel indicator, starting a timer for a measurement interval after reception of the signal for the chronologically limited activation of the direction of travel indicator, checking a steering angle measurement signal during the measurement interval, and deactivation of the direction of travel indicator as a function of the checking of the steering angle measurement signal.

Abstract: A method for charging a plurality of motor vehicles, in particular hybrid electric/electric vehicles, at a plurality of public charging stations, having the steps of: determining release times at which the respective charging stations are released for charging; determining arrival times at which the respective motor vehicles can arrive at the respective charging stations; calculating intervals of time between the respective determined release times and the respective determined arrival times as required waiting times for charging the respective motor vehicles at the respective charging stations; deciding, on the basis of the calculated waiting times, which of the charging stations will be approached by the respective motor vehicles for charging, with the proviso that an actual total waiting time, which forms a sum of actual waiting times for charging the respective motor vehicles at the respective charging stations, is minimized.

Abstract: A lane-keeping assistance device for monitoring the lane keeping of a motor vehicle includes an evaluation mechanism for evaluating at least one bend of lanes, located in front of the vehicle. The evaluation mechanism predefines a tolerance threshold value, which defines the maximum deviation limit of a transverse deviation of the motor vehicle from the motor vehicle's own lane. The evaluation mechanism is configured to adapt the tolerance threshold value in such a way that the intersection of an adjacent lane by the own lane in the at least one evaluated bend is tolerated.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a control system and to a device for an ego-vehicle in a vehicle convoy in the case of the avoidance of an obstacle. Before the ego-vehicle follows an adopted avoidance trajectory of a vehicle driving in front, a hazard evaluation of the driving strategy of the vehicle driving in front is performed and the avoidance trajectory is modified on the basis of the result of the hazard evaluation.

Abstract: A lane change from a lane which is currently being travelled in by the motor vehicle to an adjacent lane is carried out autonomously if a recommendation to change the lane is output by a control device. The recommendation to change from a relatively fast lane to a slower lane is out-put by the control device if (1) a lane change is possible without putting at risk the motor vehicle and/or another vehicle travelling on the slower lane, (2) the motor vehicle is not being prevented from travelling at a predefined speed by another vehicle travelling ahead in the lane which is currently being travelled in, and (3 ) no other vehicle which is travelling at a higher speed than the speed of the motor vehicle is detected in the slower lane at a specific distance behind the motor vehicle.

Abstract: An environment detection device for a vehicle is includes a sensor unit for determining environment information of a surrounding area of the vehicle itself, with a temperature measurement unit, configured to measure at least one state temperature of the sensor unit, and with a controller, configured to trigger at least one action for reducing the state temperature if a prescribed temperature warning value is exceeded.

Abstract: A driver assistance system for a motor vehicle, wherein the driver assistance system includes at least one vehicle camera for detecting the vehicle surroundings and a control device having an image data processing unit which is provided for evaluating the image data supplied by the vehicle camera in order to recognize objects along a road being driven on by the motor vehicle, wherein the control device controls at least one headlamp of the motor vehicle as a function of the recognized objects and the respective object priorities thereof in order to illuminate the vehicle surroundings.