Abstract: A method for detecting lost image information via a lighting device and an optical sensor. The lighting device and the optical sensor are controlled so as to be chronologically aligned with each other. A visible spacing region in an observation region of the optical sensor is determined from the chronological alignment of the control of the lighting device and the optical sensor. A recording of the observation region with the optical sensor is generated via the aligned control. Image information is identified in the recording in regions outside of the spacing region visible in the image, so as to make the identified image information accessible.

Abstract: A method for operating an autonomous vehicle includes detecting an environment of the autonomous vehicle using a sensor system positioned in at least in one direction of travel in front of the autonomous vehicle, wherein data of the environment is made available to a computing unit, wherein a trajectory of a vehicle driving ahead driving back and forth over a plurality of lanes of a multi-lane roadway is tracked by the sensor system and/or the computing unit. The method includes recognizing that the vehicle in front is an emergency vehicle and identifying when a movement pattern in the trajectory is detected which persists over a period of more than 20 seconds where the emergency vehicle drives back and forth over a plurality of lanes. The driving behavior of the autonomous vehicle is adapted to drive at a distance behind the emergency vehicle and stop when the emergency vehicle stops.

Abstract: A method for operating an autonomous vehicle includes detecting an environment of the autonomous vehicle using a sensor system, wherein data of the environment is made available to a computing unit, wherein the sensor system detects whether a second vehicle is attempting to overtake the autonomous vehicle. The method includes steering the autonomous vehicle laterally away from the second vehicle when oncoming traffic is detected, thereby creating sufficient space for the second vehicle and the oncoming traffic. The method includes detecting whether the second vehicle intends to overtake the autonomous vehicle. The method includes determining a speed differential between the second vehicle and the autonomous vehicle. The method includes implementing a defensive driving maneuver wherein the speed of the autonomous vehicle is reduced if the speed differential falls below a predetermined threshold value.

Abstract: A method for tracking an object. A first coordinated control of a lighting device and an optical sensor is assigned to a first visible distance range. A first recording of the first visible distance range while illuminated by the lighting device is recorded with the optical sensor. If the object is detected in the first recording within the first visible distance range, a distance between the detected object and the optical sensor is determined. A second coordinated control of the lighting device and the optical sensor and an assigned, second visible distance range are determined such that the object detected in the first recording is located in a center of the second visible distance range. A second recording of the second visible distance range while illuminated by the lighting device is recorded with the optical sensor by the second coordinated control.

Abstract: A method for operating a gated camera having a first and second lighting device and an optical sensor. A control of the first and second lighting device and optical sensor are temporally coordinated. The method further includes assigning a visible spacing region to the coordinated control, recording a first recording with the optical sensor by the coordinated control in an event of illumination by the first lighting device, recording a second recording with the optical sensor by the coordinated control in an event of illumination by the second lighting device, recording a third recording with the optical sensor without illumination by one of the lighting devices, forming a first difference recording as a difference between the first recording and the second recording, and forming a second difference recording as a difference between the first recording and the third recording or a difference between the second recording and the third recording.

Abstract: A method for calibrating a first lighting device, a second lighting device, and an optical sensor includes controlling the first lighting device, the second lighting device, and the optical sensor in a temporally coordinated manner and associating the controlling with a visible distance range. The method further includes capturing a first recorded image with the optical sensor by the controlling during an illumination by the first lighting device, capturing a second recorded image with the optical sensor by the controlling during an illumination by the second lighting device, and forming a differential recorded image as a difference between the first recorded image and the second recorded image. The coordinated controlling and/or the first lighting device and/or the second lighting device is evaluated and/or changed on a basis of the differential recorded image.

Abstract: A method for producing a suitable distance between an autonomous vehicle and a second vehicle. The method includes recording data of an environment including the second vehicle driving ahead of the autonomous vehicle along a direction of travel, the data being recorded by a sensor system positioned relative to the autonomous vehicle in the direction of travel and in communication with a computing unit. The method includes detecting a potentially dangerous situation by the sensor system based on a distance between the autonomous vehicle and the second vehicle. The method includes adjusting the autonomous vehicle to maintain the suitable between the autonomous vehicle and the second vehicle.

Abstract: A method for operating an autonomous vehicle with a sensor system and a computing unit connected thereto. The method includes detecting with the sensor system an environment of the vehicle and potential collision causes. The method includes detecting an impending collision of the potential collision causes. The method includes preparing an evasive strategy including an evasive trajectory in which the evasive trajectory with the lowest risk is selected from a family of evasive trajectories; and is carried out by the vehicle, wherein once the speed of the potential collision cause has fallen to about zero, the evasive movement of the vehicle is interrupted.

Abstract: A method for operating an automated vehicle involves determining that the vehicle is nearing a bend, a neighboring free lane is present on a side of the vehicle on the outside of the bend, a visual range of at least one detection unit, aligned in the driving direction of the vehicle, of an environment sensor is restricted due to the bend ahead, and, in the bend, due to the road condition, a braking distance is increased compared with a predetermined setpoint, or a road grip of the vehicle or other vehicles is decreased. Based on this determination, the vehicle automatically carries out a lane change to the neighboring free lane on the outside of the bend or a current driving speed of the vehicle is automatically reduced.

Abstract: The invention relates to a camera arrangement (K) for a vehicle with at least one camera (1) arranged in a housing (2), wherein the housing (2) has at least one transparent region. The camera arrangement (K) according to the invention is characterised by a container (5) which is arranged in the housing (2) and has a moisture-adsorbing drying agent (6), wherein the container (5) has a permeable membrane (7) on at least one side, such that an air exchange (LA) takes place between an interior of the housing (2) and the drying agent (6), and a detection unit (8) coupled to the container (5) for detecting a state of the drying agent (6).

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of carrying out a departure inspection on an autonomous vehicle combination. In a method that shortens the inspection period, before departure of the vehicle combination (1), a first region (15) under the towing vehicle (3) of the vehicle combination (1) is checked for living beings and objects by means of a sensor system (13) fixedly installed on the towing vehicle (3), and a second region (21) under the trailer (5) of the vehicle combination (1) is checked by means of a mobile robot (19) comprising a further sensor system (15).

Abstract: Surroundings in front of a vehicle are detected and the vehicle speed is reduced when the surroundings are partially shaded so the vehicle can be brought to a safe stop, without emergency braking, in front of an object located in the region of the shadowing in the lane in which the vehicle is travelling. In the event of a static detection of a reduced detection horizon less than a braking distance dependent on a current speed, the vehicle is decelerated such that the reduced detection horizon is again greater than the braking distance. Other road users in the surroundings of the vehicle are traced with sensors and shadowing by them and a resulting expected reduced detection horizon are determined in advance of a future point in time so that the vehicle speed is reduced and the expected reduced detection horizon at the time is again greater than the braking distance.

Abstract: A vehicle system is configured to determine the danger of an icy hollow forming below tires of the vehicle parked or yet to be parked on a ground by detecting ice and snow on the ground and by ascertaining a surroundings temperature, and when the danger of an icy hollow forming is recognized, to ascertain a second parking place different to an original parking place of the vehicle depending on at least one spacing between a first axle and a second axle, such that the position of the second axle on the second parking place of the vehicle is not the same as the position of the first axle on the original parking place of the vehicle.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for operating a gated camera (3) having an illumination device (5) and an optical sensor (7), wherein the illumination device (5) and the optical sensor (7) are time-coordinated with each other, wherein a visible distance range is assigned to a first time coordination, wherein a property (25) of the visible distance range is provided, wherein the illumination device (5) has at least two functional positions (11), so that the visible distance range can be selectively illuminated by means of the illumination device (5) from at least one functional position (11) of the at least two functional positions (11), wherein the at least two functional positions (11) are spatially distanced from one another, wherein based on the property (25) of the visible distance range, a functional position (11) of the at least two functional positions (11) for illuminating the visible distance range is selected.

Abstract: A gated camera records images of a roadway in a longitudinal direction in front of a vehicle. An object is recognized in the images and it is determined using an optical flow, considering distinct movement information of the vehicle, whether a braking and/or an evading maneuver is required to avoid a collision with the object. Using the optical flow it is determined whether the object is in contact with the roadway, has a distinct movement, is moved out of a driving corridor of the vehicle or into the driving corridor. When the distinct movement of the object is erratic or the object is moved out of the driving corridor, the object is classified as able to be driven over or otherwise as not able to be driven over. A braking and/or evading maneuver is carried out only with an object that is classified as not able to be driven over.

Abstract: An interface arrangement for a vehicle connects a humanoid robot to the vehicle. The interface arrangement is equipped and designed to be connected in the vehicle, respectively to a positioning device, an energy source, a communication device, and a sensor unit of the vehicle. The interface arrangement has a first interface equipped and designed to transmit current position data of the positioning device of the vehicle to the humanoid robot. A second interface transmits energy from the energy source of the vehicle to the humanoid robot. A third interface transmits network data from the communication device of the vehicle to the humanoid robot. A fourth interface transmits sensor data from the sensor unit of the vehicle to the humanoid robot.

Abstract: A control device for a vehicle includes a communication module, which establishes a transmission and receiving connection to a server external to the vehicle, and a control module connected to this for driving functions, which receives data of at least one sensor and controls at least one actuator for at least partially autonomously controlling at least one of the driving functions in the vehicle. A disconnector physically separates at least the receiving connection and a read-only memory, in which a piece of software for overwriting the software in the communication module and the control module in case of interference, is stored. Control of the control device is assumed when the control device has presumably been tampered with in the vehicle and uses this to separate at least the receiving connection, to bring the vehicle into a safe traffic state as needed, and to overwrite software in the control module and the communication module with software from the read-only memory.

Abstract: A device and a method for covering or switching off information displayed on an outer surface of a vehicle involves the device covering or switching off information displayed on the outer surface when a situation deviating from a normal state is present.

Abstract: A method for operating a first vehicle which is a driverless ego vehicle. The method includes performing a situation analysis in the driverless ego vehicle to identify an overtaking maneuver that is being carried out by a second vehicle in which the second vehicle can no longer be expected to avoid a collision with the driverless ego vehicle and/or with a third vehicle. When the overtaking maneuver is identified, a strategy is determined for avoiding or reducing a consequence of a collision in the driverless ego vehicle depending on whether it has been identified in the situation analysis that at least one of the driverless ego vehicle, the second vehicle, and the third vehicle is manned.

Abstract: A method for operating a gated camera which has a lighting device and an optical sensor. An actuation of the lighting device and optical sensor are chronologically first coordinated with each other and a visible object region is assigned to the first coordinated actuation. Via the first coordinated actuation, recording a first recording of the visible object region from a first distance between the gated camera and the visible object region. A second coordinated actuation is selected such that the visible object region is assigned to the second coordinated actuation. Via the second coordinated actuation, recording a second recording of the visible object region from a second distance between the gated camera and the visible object region. The first recording and the second recording are compared using a criterion and a viewing range of the gated camera is inferred on a basis of the comparing.