Abstract: A vehicle is operable in a first operating mode in which the vehicle travels autonomously inside the traffic lane based on a detection of lane markings of a traffic lane and in a second operating mode in which the vehicle autonomously follows a vehicle driving in front while ignoring lane markings, and a method of its operation includes operating the vehicle in a first of the two operating modes, detecting a vehicle environment, and switching from the first operating mode to the other of the two operating modes as a function of the detected vehicle environment. A device can execute the method and a computer program can be executed by a device for performing the method.

Abstract: An apparatus for operating a vehicle, including a control device that is configured to guide the vehicle automatically; and a monitoring device that is configured to monitor the control device for a fault during automatic guidance of the vehicle by the control device, and upon recognition of a fault to take over automated guidance of the vehicle from the control device. A corresponding method and a computer program are also described.

Abstract: A method and device for determining a first highly precise position of a vehicle. The method includes acquiring surrounding-area data values using at least one radar sensor of the vehicle, the surrounding-area data values representing a surrounding area of the vehicle; and determining a rough position of the vehicle as a function of the acquired surrounding area data values. In addition, the method includes determining surrounding-area feature data values as a function of the determined rough position of the vehicle, the surrounding-area feature data values representing at least one surrounding-area feature and a second highly precise position of the at least one surrounding-area feature; and determining the first highly precise position of the vehicle as a function of the at least one surrounding-area feature, according to predefined localization criteria, the first highly precise position of the vehicle being more precise than the rough position of the vehicle.

Abstract: A method for monitoring a setpoint trajectory to be traveled by a vehicle for being collision free, including carrying out a clearance measurement of vehicle surroundings with the aid of a surroundings sensor system to determine a clearance in the vehicle surroundings, carrying out an object measurement of the vehicle surroundings with the aid of the surroundings sensor system to determine objects in the vehicle surroundings, checking the setpoint trajectory for being collision free based on the determined clearance and the determined objects, and comparing particular results of the checks for being collision free to one another, an item of collision information being provided based on the comparison.

Abstract: A method for operating a vehicle, the vehicle being guided in fully automated fashion, and if an error is detected during the fully automated guidance, a safe state being selected from a plurality of safe states as a function of one parameter, the vehicle being guided in fully automated fashion into the selected safe state. Also described is an apparatus for operating a vehicle, as well as to a computer program.

Abstract: A highly automated driving function for controlling a motor vehicle includes a plurality of function components. A method for controlling the motor vehicle includes steps of executing the driving function using a first function component, comparing the behavior of the first function component to a specified behavior, ascertaining that the behavior of the first function component deviates from the specified behavior, ascertaining a first accident risk if the driving function continues to be executed with the aid of the first function component, ascertaining a second accident risk if the execution of the driving function continues with the aid of a second function component, and executing the driving function with the aid of the particular function component whose allocated accident risk is the lowest.

Abstract: A method for operating at least one vehicle relative to at least one passable object in a surrounding area of the at least one vehicle includes inputting map data values from a map, the map data values including the at least one passable object in the form of first object data values; recording surrounding area data values, which represent the surrounding area of the at least one vehicle and include the at least one passable object in the form of second object data values; reconciling the input map data values with the recorded surrounding area data values in accordance with predefined first comparison criteria; and operating the at least one vehicle as a function of the reconciliation of the data values.

Abstract: A sensor system for a vehicle for detecting bridges and tunnels is described, which includes a lateral LIDAR sensor, which is located on a first side of the vehicle and has a detection area covering a lateral surrounding area of the vehicle, and a control unit for evaluating the measuring data from the lateral LIDAR sensor. The lateral LIDAR sensor is positioned rotated about a vertical axis so that part of the detection area of the lateral LIDAR sensor at the front in the travel direction detects an upper spatial area located at a predefined distance ahead of the vehicle. The lateral LIDAR sensor is tilted about its transverse axis with respect to the horizontal, so the detection area of the lateral LIDAR sensor detects the remote upper spatial area at a predefined height above the vehicle using its part which is at the front in the direction of travel.

Abstract: A method for operating a vehicle includes detecting an object state using a surroundings sensor system of the vehicle at a first point in time, detecting an object state using the surroundings sensor system at a later second point in time, and adapting an activation state of a semi-automated or fully-automated driving function of the vehicle based on the detected object states.

Abstract: A method for estimating an inherent movement of a vehicle. The method includes a step of classifying, a step of detecting, and a step of ascertaining. In the step of classifying, at least one portion of a camera image representing a classified object is classified into an object category which represents stationary objects. In the step of detecting, at least one detection point of the portion in the camera image classified into the object category is detected in the camera image by utilizing a detection algorithm. In the step of ascertaining, an estimated inherent movement of the vehicle is ascertained by utilizing the detection point.

Abstract: A method for ascertaining the danger potential of a lane change of an ego vehicle from the currently used traffic lane to an adjacent traffic lane, a detection range in the external space of the ego vehicle being monitored, and the effect of objects identified in the detection range on the danger potential is evaluated, and based on positions and speeds of internal other vehicles identified in the detection range, it is determined whether external other vehicles located outside the detection range are able to reach a target region in which the ego vehicle is located following the intended lane change. A method for the at least partially automated control of an ego vehicle, in which in the case of an intended lane change, the danger potential of this lane change is evaluated, and the lane change is prevented if external other vehicles are able to reach the target region.

Abstract: A method is described for processing sensor data of a stereo sensor system for stereoscopic sensing of an environment of the stereo sensor system. A disparity map is constituted based on the sensor data, wherein a change in disparity between two disparity points of the disparity map that are constituted with a spacing from one another is identified, at least one of the two disparity points being classified to correspond to an object as a function of the change in disparity. Also described is a corresponding apparatus, to a corresponding object recognition system, and to a corresponding computer program.

Abstract: In a method and device for operating an automated vehicle, steps are performed, which include receiving surroundings data values, which represent surroundings of the automated vehicle, determining an instantaneous driving situation in which the automated vehicle is situated as a function of the surroundings of the automated vehicle, and operating the automated vehicle as a function of the instantaneous driving situation.

Abstract: A method for operating a vehicle including at least one assistance function or at least a partially automated driving function, including: ascertaining at least one safe driving state; capturing the current driving state; determining a permissible range for the current driving state of the vehicle from which at least one of the at least one safe driving state is attainable; operating the vehicle using an activable or active assistance function or an at least partially automated driving function within the specified permissible range.

Abstract: A method for determining a presently existing driving situation in which a vehicle finds itself at the moment. The method includes receiving of driving-environment data based on a sensed vehicle driving environment, extracting of features from the driving-environment data with the aid of pattern recognition, classifying the presently existing driving situation based exclusively on the features extracted by the pattern recognition, and providing a result of the classification. A corresponding apparatus, a corresponding system as well as a computer program, are also described.

Abstract: A sensor system for a vehicle for recognizing adjacent vehicles, situated in an adjacent lane, with protruding or exposed objects, is described which includes a first lateral LIDAR sensor. The first lateral LIDAR sensor is tilted about a first transverse axis with respect to the horizontal, so that the first detection range, with its front portion in the travel direction, detects a first upper spatial area laterally ahead of the vehicle, at a height above the installed position of the first lateral LIDAR sensor. The second lateral LIDAR sensor is tilted opposite to the tilt direction of the first LIDAR sensor about a second transverse axis with respect to the horizontal, so that the second detection range, with its rear portion in the travel direction, detects a second upper spatial area laterally behind the vehicle, at a height above the installed position of the second LIDAR sensor.

Abstract: A method for validating a digital map for a vehicle, including radar-based ascertainment of driving-environment data with the aid of an ascertainment device of the vehicle, comparing the ascertained driving-environment data to corresponding data of the digital map, and Verifying a validity of the digital map for the case when the driving-environment data, ascertained based on radar, coincide to a defined extent with the data of the digital map.

Abstract: A method and an associated system for vehicle localization are described. The system includes a first sensor unit for determining a relative movement of the vehicle in relation to at least one feature in the vehicle surroundings and a second sensor unit for detecting radar data of the vehicle surroundings. The system also includes a memory for storing a digital map, a localization unit, which is configured, for ascertaining a preliminary position indication, to localize the vehicle in the digital map based on the relative movement determined by the first sensor unit, and a position determination unit, which is configured to compare the radar data detected by the second sensor unit with the digital map while taking the preliminary position indication into account, and to determine a position of the vehicle based on the comparison.

Abstract: A method for determining the position of a vehicle, including: determination of a GNS vehicle position by a GNS unit, sensor acquisition of a surrounding environment of the GNS vehicle position by a radar sensor unit of the vehicle in order to ascertain radar data corresponding to the acquired surrounding environment, detection of objects situated in the surrounding environment based on the radar data, ascertaining of a direction vector that points from a detected object to a reference point fixed to the vehicle, comparison of the radar data and the ascertained direction vector to a digital map that has objects and direction vectors assigned to the objects, the direction vectors assigned to the objects pointing to a position in the digital map from which the corresponding object was acquired by a radar sensor unit, and ascertaining of a corrected vehicle position based on the GNS vehicle position and the comparison.

Abstract: A method for monitoring a system of a vehicle which provides an at least partially automated driving function, including the following steps: checking a setpoint driving state of the vehicle, predefined by the system, for plausibility, controlling the vehicle as a function of the predefined setpoint driving state in order to reach the predefined setpoint driving state when a result of the check is that the predefined setpoint driving state is plausible, or controlling the vehicle as a function of an emergency setpoint driving state in order to reach the emergency setpoint driving state when a result of the check is that the predefined setpoint driving state is implausible. Moreover, a corresponding device, a corresponding monitoring system, and a corresponding computer program are described.