Abstract: A device for detecting knocking and regulating an internal combustion engine has at least one knocking sensor adapted to be assigned to a cylinder of the internal combustion engine and delivers an electrical output signal which is a function of a combustion stage in a respective cylinder. A signal evaluation unit receives the electrical output signal and has at least one preprocessing stage, a logical evaluation device formed as a device selected from a fuzzy logic device and at least one neuronic network, and a microprocessor making a connection within the signal evaluation unit. The preprocessing stage includes an element for extracting characteristic features from the output signal of the knocking sensor so that individual values are selected from an output signal of the signal preprocessing stage to form at least one signal vector which is fed to the neuronic network as an input vector which forms decision criteria making possible a statement regarding a presence of knocking.