Method for warning road users by means of surroundings monitoring for a running vehicle, and apparatus for performing the method

1. A method ( 1 ) for warning road users ( 2 ) about vehicles ( 3 ), the method comprising the following steps:

monitoring surroundings of a running vehicle ( 3 ) via a sensor to generate monitored surroundings;

modifying an area of the monitored surroundings based on a condition of a speed of the running vehicle ( 3 );

situation detection ( 5 ) for the road users ( 2 ) in the modified monitored surroundings of the surroundings ( 6 ) of the running vehicle ( 3 );

ascertainment of probable paths of movement ( 7 ) of the running vehicle ( 3 ) and the road users ( 2 );

detecting a set of objects in the modified monitored surroundings, wherein an interspace exists between the detected set of objects and the interspace is not visible in the generated monitored surroundings;

ascertainment of an impending hazard situation ( 8 ) based on the interspace of the detected set of objects in the modified monitored surroundings; and

if an impending hazard situation ( 8 ) is ascertained, audible warning ( 9 ) in and around the running vehicle ( 3 ).

2. The method ( 1 ) for warning road users ( 2 ) about vehicles ( 3 ) according to claim 1 ,

wherein

a warning ( 9 ) is issued if at least one other road user ( 2 ) is detected.

3. The method ( 1 ) for warning road users ( 2 ) about vehicles ( 3 ) according to claim 2 ,

wherein

a warning ( 9 ) is issued if at least one other road user ( 2 ) is detected within a critical range ( 10 ).

4. The method ( 1 ) for warning road users ( 2 ) about vehicles ( 3 ) according to claim 2 ,

wherein

a warning ( 9 ) is issued if the probable path of movement ( 7 ) of at least one other road user ( 2 ) will cross the path of movement ( 7 ) of the running vehicle ( 3 ).

5. The method ( 1 ) for warning road users ( 2 ) about vehicles ( 3 ) according to claim 1 ,

wherein

the warning ( 9 ) is adjusted to suit the type of the detected other road user ( 2 ).

6. The method ( 1 ) for warning road users ( 2 ) about vehicles ( 3 ) according to claim 1 ,

wherein

the intensity of the warning ( 9 ) is adjusted to suit the hazard situation ( 8 ) using the following steps:

rating the dangerousness of the hazard situation ( 8 );

intensity control for the warning ( 9 ) by means of volume adjustment and/or adjustment of the sound to suit the hazard situation ( 8 ).

7. The method ( 1 ) for warning road users ( 2 ) about vehicles ( 3 ) according to claim 6 ,

wherein

the intensity of the warning ( 9 ) is adjusted to suit the other road users ( 2 ) to be warned using the following steps:

rating the attentiveness of the other road user ( 2 );

reinforcement of the warning ( 9 ) by means of directional sound ( 11 );

reinforcement of the warning ( 9 ) by means of combination with a light signal ( 12 );

reinforcement of the warning ( 9 ) by means of a spoken warning ( 13 ).

8. The method ( 1 ) for warning road users ( 2 ) about vehicles ( 3 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the condition is a reaction distance.

9. The method ( 1 ) for warning road users ( 2 ) about vehicles ( 3 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the condition is a braking distance.

10. The method ( 1 ) for warning road users ( 2 ) about vehicles ( 3 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the road users ( 2 ) in the surroundings ( 6 ) of the running vehicle ( 3 ) are not visible in the monitored surroundings.

11. The method ( 1 ) for warning road users ( 2 ) about vehicles ( 3 ) according to claim 1 , further comprising:

determining that the road users ( 2 ) in the surroundings ( 6 ) are associated with a hazard situation based on the road users ( 2 ) being detected in the modified monitored surroundings.

12. A vehicle ( 3 ) configured to,

perform monitoring of surroundings of the vehicle ( 3 ) when running via a sensor to generate monitored surroundings;

modify an area of the monitored surroundings of the vehicle ( 3 ) based on a condition of a speed of the vehicle ( 3 );

perform situation detection ( 5 ) for road users ( 2 ) in the modified monitored surroundings of the surroundings ( 6 ) of the vehicle ( 3 );

detect a set of objects in the modified monitored surroundings, wherein an interspace exists between the detected set of objects and the interspace is not visible in the generated monitored surroundings;

ascertain probable paths of movement ( 7 ) of the vehicle ( 3 ) and the road users ( 2 );

ascertain an impending hazard situation ( 8 ) based on the interspace of the detected set of objects in the modified monitored surroundings; and

if an impending hazard situation ( 8 ) is ascertained, generate an audible warning ( 9 ) in and around the vehicle ( 3 ),

wherein

the vehicle ( 3 ) is a land vehicle and the road users ( 2 ) move in a ground-based manner.

13. The vehicle ( 3 ), according to claim 12 , wherein the condition is a reaction distance.

14. The vehicle ( 3 ), according to claim 12 , wherein the condition is a braking distance.

15. The vehicle ( 3 ), according to claim 12 , wherein the road users ( 2 ) in the surroundings ( 6 ) of the vehicle ( 3 ) are not visible in the monitored surroundings.

16. The vehicle ( 3 ), according to claim 12 is further configured to

determine that the road users ( 2 ) in the surroundings ( 6 ) is associated with a hazard situation based on the road users ( 2 ) being detected in the monitored surroundings that is modified.

17. The method ( 1 ) for warning road users ( 2 ) about vehicles ( 3 ) according to claim 1 ,

wherein a sound of the warning ( 9 ) is altered from a first sound to a second sound based on an increase in the speed of the vehicle ( 3 ), and wherein the second sound is a variant of the first sound.

18. The vehicle ( 3 ), according to claim 12 , wherein a sound of the warning ( 9 ) is altered from a first sound to a second sound based on an increase in the speed of the vehicle ( 3 ), and wherein the second sound is a variant of the first sound.