Electronic control unit, a system, and a method for protecting a radiator, and a vehicle provided with the same

1 . An electronic control unit for protecting a radiator, the electronic control unit comprising a computer system provided with a processor device, the electronic control unit being configured to:

collect from at least one sensor a detection signal indicative of a presence of objects in an environment ahead of a radiator of a vehicle, wherein the detection signal indicates a level of objects,

collect from a thermometer a measured temperature of an engine of the vehicle,

control an actuator to actuate a shutter of the radiator to either open the shutter completely, or close the shutter completely, or close the shutter partially, depending on a result of a test based on the detection signal and on the measured temperature, wherein the test includes

comparing the level of objects to either a predetermined size of objects or a predetermined range of sizes for the objects, and

comparing the measured temperature to either a predetermined temperature threshold value or a predetermined temperature threshold range,

control the actuator based on the result of the test to open the shutter completely by prioritizing the predetermined temperature threshold value and the predetermined temperature threshold range over the predetermined temperature threshold range and the predetermined range of sizes for the objects.

2 . The electronic control unit of claim 1 , wherein the at least one sensor is at least one of a lidar, a 4D radar.

3 . The electronic control unit of claim 1 , wherein the objects is at least one of dust, pebbles, mud, bugs or insects.

4 . The electronic control unit of claim 1 , wherein the shutter is opened completely if the test determines that the detection signal is indicative of the level of objects greater than a predetermined level, and that the engine temperature is greater than a first predetermined threshold.

5 . The electronic control unit of claim 4 , wherein the shutter is closed completely, if the test determines that the detection signal is indicative of the level of objects greater than a predetermined level, and that the engine temperature is lower than a second predetermined threshold, the second predetermined threshold being lower than the first predetermined threshold.

6 . The electronic control unit of claim 5 , wherein the shutter is closed partially, if the test determines that the detection signal is indicative of a level of objects greater than a predetermined level, and that the engine temperature is comprised between the second predetermined threshold and the first predetermined threshold.

7 . The electronic control unit of claim 1 , wherein the shutter is opened completely if the test determines that the engine temperature is greater than a third predetermined threshold.

8 . A system for protecting a radiator of a vehicle, the system comprising the radiator of the vehicle, the radiator comprising a shutter of the radiator, the shutter being actuated by an actuator of the shutter of the radiator, the system further comprising a thermometer configured to measure a temperature of an engine of the vehicle, the system further comprising an electronic control unit according to claim 1 .

9 . A vehicle comprising the system according to claim 8 .

10 . A method for actuating a shutter of a radiator of a vehicle to protect the radiator of the vehicle, the method comprising the following steps, implemented by a processor device of a computer system of an electronic control unit of the vehicle:

controlling at least one sensor to provide to the electronic control unit a detection signal indicative of a presence of objects in an environment ahead of the radiator of the vehicle;

measuring a temperature of an engine of the vehicle, wherein the detection signal is further indicative of a level of objects; and

actuating the shutter of the radiator to either open the shutter completely, or close the shutter completely, or close the shutter partially, depending on a result of a test based on the detection signal and on the measured temperature, wherein:

the test compares the level of objects to either a predetermined size of objects or a predetermined range of sizes for the objects;

the test compares the measured temperature to either a predetermined temperature threshold value or a predetermined temperature threshold range; and

the result of the test prioritizes the predetermined temperature threshold value and the predetermined temperature threshold range over the predetermined temperature threshold range and the predetermined range of sizes for the objects.

11 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the at least one sensor is at least one of a lidar, or a 4D radar.

12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the objects are at least one of dust, pebbles, mud, bugs.

13 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the shutter is opened completely if the test determines that the detection signal is indicative of the level of objects greater than a predetermined level, and that the engine temperature is greater than a first predetermined threshold.

14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the shutter is closed completely, if the test determines that the detection signal is indicative of the level of objects greater than a predetermined level, and that the engine temperature is lower than a second predetermined threshold, the second predetermined threshold being lower than the first predetermined threshold.

15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the shutter is closed partially, if the test determines that the detection signal is indicative of the level of objects greater than a predetermined level, and that the engine temperature is comprised between the second predetermined threshold and the first predetermined threshold.

16 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the shutter is opened completely if the test determines that the engine temperature is greater than a third predetermined threshold.

17 . A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions, which when executed by a processor device of a computer system of an electronic control unit, cause the processor device to perform the method of claim 10 .