Abstract: A method for detecting a degradation in a distance-measuring system (1.1), comprising the following method steps: transmitting a transmission signal (1.2), acquiring a received signal back-scattered from an object, determining the distance (a) from the object using the received signal, and determining a degree of degradation based on the determined distance (a) from the object and/or the received signal strength of the received signal.

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: A method for detecting a degradation in a distance-measuring system (1.1), comprising the following method steps: transmitting a transmission signal (1.2), acquiring a received signal back-scattered from an object, determining the distance (a) from the object using the received signal, and determining a degree of degradation based on the determined distance (a) from the object and/or the received signal strength of the received signal.

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: The invention relates to a stereo camera device for a motor vehicle, comprising: a first and a second mono camera, the first and second mono cameras each having at least one optical system and an image sensor for sensing images; an evaluation device, the image sensor of the first mono camera and the image sensor of the second mono camera being connected to the evaluation device in order to transmit image data of the sensed images. The evaluation device is designed: to evaluate a first stereo image from the image data transmitted to the first and second mono camera, using a stereo camera algorithm; to evaluate a second stereo image from the image data transmitted to the first mono camera, using a mono algorithm; to determine image depth information from each of the first and the second stereo images; and to check that the image depth information that has been determined from the first and the second stereo images corresponds.

Abstract: In a device for predictable exposure control of a vehicle camera, a first vehicle camera has a visual field directed to the side or to the rear, and a second vehicle camera has a visual field directed to the front. A method involves recording second image data from the outer front surroundings by the second vehicle camera, detecting a region having altered brightness within the second image data, determining a required change of an exposure value based on the second image data, to compensate for a brightening or darkening that occurs when the vehicle enters the region having altered brightness, and transmitting the changed exposure value to the first vehicle camera such that, upon entry into the region having altered brightness, the first vehicle camera records first image data based on the changed exposure value.

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: A method of performing a towing process by a towing vehicle (10) involves activating a towing mode (S1) and adapting a vehicle speed of the towing vehicle to a towing speed (S2). A camera system (100) for recognizing a towing process includes at least one camera (12) arranged on the rear of a vehicle, for detecting at least one sub-region located behind the vehicle, and an image processing device (16) configured to recognize a towing device (14) in detected image data, whereby a towing mode may be activated and/or terminated.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for predictable exposure control of a vehicle camera (12, 14, 16), comprising the following steps: providing at least one first vehicle camera (12, 14, 16), the visual field (12.1, 14.1, 16.1) of which is substantially directed to the side or to the rear, providing at least one second vehicle camera (18), the visual field (18.

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 method of performing a towing process by a towing vehicle (10) involves activating a towing mode (S1) and adapting a vehicle speed of the towing vehicle to a towing speed (S2). A camera system (100) for recognizing a towing process includes at least one camera (12) arranged on the rear of a vehicle, for detecting at least one sub-region located behind the vehicle, and an image processing device (16) configured to recognize a towing device (14) in detected image data, whereby a towing mode may be activated and/or terminated.

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 device for classifying electrical contacting between a first connecting element of a battery and a second connecting element, which is directly or indirectly connected to an electrical load. A temperature sensor is provided for detecting the temperature of the first connecting element and/or of the second connecting element and a control device, which is coupled to the temperature sensor and which is configured, on the basis of a detecting signal of the temperature sensor, to classify the electrical contacting between the first connecting element and the second connecting element. A corresponding method and to a battery system, as well as a battery receiving system including such a device for classifying electrical contacting. Moreover, there is provided an electrical power supply system with such a battery system and such a battery receiving system.