Computer-implemented method for ascertaining a position of a motor vehicle or an object

1 . A computer-implemented method for ascertaining a position of a motor vehicle or of an object, the method comprising:

optically recording data of a traffic environment having multiple motor vehicles;

detecting a reflection of at least a portion of a specific one of the motor vehicles in the object in the data;

ascertaining at least one prominent area of the specific motor vehicle in the reflection;

simulating a plurality of different geometrical transformations of the specific motor vehicle or of the prominent area;

comparing the plurality of different simulated geometric transformations with the reflection with respect to differences;

selecting a simulated geometrical transformation having the fewest differences as an appropriate geometrical transformation; and

ascertaining the position of the specific motor vehicle or the object using the prominent area in the reflection and the appropriate geometric transformation.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the object is one of the motor vehicles.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the prominent area differs more visually from a first neighboring area adjacent to the prominent area than other areas of the specific motor vehicle differ from a second neighboring area adjacent to the other areas.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the optically recorded data are recorded by a camera of a camera motor vehicle that is one of the motor vehicles, and wherein the specific motor vehicle is distinct from the camera motor vehicle.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the optical data are recorded by a camera of the specific motor vehicle.

6 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising retrieving information about an outer surface of the object, and using the retrieved information in ascertaining the position of the specific motor vehicle or of the object.

7 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the reflection was detected on the outer surface.

8 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising detecting in the optical data multiple reflections of at least the portion of the specific motor vehicle on a number of the motor vehicles; ascertaining the prominent area of the specific motor vehicle in the reflections; and ascertaining the position of the specific motor vehicle by way of the prominent area in the reflections.

9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the optically recorded data comprises single images or videos.

10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the object is a reflective surface.

11 . A system comprising a digital electronic storage medium and a digital electronic processing unit, wherein instructions are stored in the storage medium, wherein the processing unit is designed to read out and execute the instructions, wherein the instructions are designed such that, when the instructions are executed, the processing unit is prompted to perform a method for ascertaining a position of a motor vehicle or of an object, the method comprising:

optically recording data of a traffic environment having multiple motor vehicles;

detecting a reflection of at least a portion of a specific one of the motor vehicles in the object in the data;

ascertaining at least one prominent area of the specific motor vehicle in the reflection;

simulating a plurality of different geometrical transformations of the specific motor vehicle or of the prominent area;

comparing the plurality of different simulated geometric transformations with the reflection with respect to differences;

selecting a simulated geometrical transformation having the fewest differences as an appropriate geometrical transformation; and

ascertaining the position of the specific motor vehicle or the object using the prominent area in the reflection and the appropriate geometric transformation.

12 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the object is one of the motor vehicles.

13 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the prominent area differs more visually from a first neighboring area adjacent to the prominent area than other areas of the specific motor vehicle differ from a second neighboring area adjacent to the other areas.

14 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the optically recorded data are recorded by a camera of a camera motor vehicle that is one of the motor vehicles, and wherein the specific motor vehicle is distinct from the camera motor vehicle.

15 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the optical data are recorded by a camera of the specific motor vehicle.

16 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the instructions are configured such that the method further comprises retrieving information about an outer surface of the object, and using the retrieved information in ascertaining the position of the specific motor vehicle or of the object.

17 . The system of claim 16 , wherein the reflection was detected on the outer surface.

18 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the instructions are configured such that the method further comprises detecting in the optical data multiple reflections of at least the portion of the specific motor vehicle on a number of the motor vehicles; ascertaining the prominent area of the specific motor vehicle in the reflections; and ascertaining the position of the specific motor vehicle by way of the prominent area in the reflections.