Abstract: A method for spacing control for a vehicle in which an intended vehicle spacing from a vehicle in front is determined as a function of at least the current vehicle speed by an arrangement for calculating the intended spacing. In order to increase the acceptability of the spacing control method by a vehicle driver, the control arrangement has a transfer function which is adaptable to an individual driving characteristic of the vehicle driver.

Abstract: An autonomous vehicle and method for controlling it includes an input unit to receive one or more travel orders, a route planning unit containing at least one position finding device and digital street map, a vehicle path generating a unit, an array of sensors including at least one range sensor for detecting objects and at least one range sensor for detecting the condition features of the route, a collision avoidance unit, a vehicle condition data recognition unit, a vehicle control unit and a unit for controlling the vehicle actuator system based on the signals generated by the vehicle control unit, wherein the array of sensors includes at least two essentially horizontally directed range sensors at the front of the vehicle, at least one range sensor at the rear area of the vehicle, at least one trackable range sensor on the roof of the vehicle and directed at the roadway, ultrasonic sensors and/or microwave radar sensors arranged on each side of the vehicle, and at least one camera located in each of the f

Abstract: A method is disclosed for arranging or adapting a fuzzy controller or of a system of interlinked fuzzy controllers having at least two input variables and an output variable which controller or system has input membership functions with which truth values of linguistic values for the input variables are determined, and has a control mechanism in which truth values for the output variable are determined from the truth values for the input variable and has output membership functions with which the values of the output variable are determined from the truth values for the output variable. Pursuant to the method, value ranges are defined for the input variables and a number of classes are determined over the value ranges. Subsequently, in a learning phase, value combinations of the input variables and of the output variable are recorded data set by data set. The defined classes are altered, removed and/or new classes are generated as a function of the registered value combinations.

Abstract: In a method of measuring visibility from a vehicle in motion, images taken by an optical-electronic camera are transformed into selected image features establishing the loci of defined brightness variations in the images. A range determination of the selected features relative to the optical-electronic camera is carried out followed by filtration of the range readings to establish the prevailing visibility for a vehicle operator or a sensor system based on image processing. The advantage over conventional active methods is that, without requiring an active transmitter, the true visual object contrast as well as the atmospheric transmission enters into the visibility determination.

Abstract: The specification discloses a method for spacing control for a motor vehicle, in which the current driving speed of the motor vehicle and the current spacing of the vehicle from an object in front of the vehicle are determined by sensor devices, and a spacing-dependent required acceleration is produced from the detected variables. For this purpose, a speed-dependent required acceleration is determined from a desired speed which is manually predetermined by the vehicle driver, and is compared with the spacing-dependent required acceleration. A manipulated variable for the driving engine and/or the braking system of the motor vehicle is then generated as a function of the required acceleration.

Abstract: A system for recognizing authorization of a person to use a vehicle includes an optical-electronic image processor arranged to identify an authorized user of the vehicle by recognizing a distinctive physical feature of the user. The image processor provides an output signal which controls locking functions relating to operation of the vehicle based on a comparison of detected information with stored information relating to distinctive individual features of authorized users so that only authorized persons are enabled to use the vehicle.