Dummy Apparatus with Movable Radar Reflecting Elements for Testing Driver Assistance Systems

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention relates to a dummy device for performing tests for driver assistance systems. The dummy device comprises a base body with a simulation region, wherein the base body depicts an object to be simulated and the simulation region depicts a movable part of the object the simulated, and at least one simulation element which is arranged at the simulation region. The simulation element is configured to reflect and/or to emit signals such that a motion of the movable part of the object to be simulated is simulatable.

Claims

1-29. (canceled)

30. A dummy device for performing tests for driver assistance systems, comprising: a base body with a simulation region, wherein the base body depicts an object to be simulated and the simulation region depicts a movable part of the object to be simulated; at least one simulation element which is arranged at the simulation region; wherein the simulation element is configured to reflect and/or to emit signals such that a motion of the movable part of the object to be simulated is simulatable.

31. The dummy device according to claim 30, wherein the simulation element is movable relatively to the simulation region.

32. The dummy device according to claim 30, wherein the simulation element comprises a retroreflecting element, in particular a triple mirror or a triple prisma.

33. The dummy device according to claim 30, wherein the simulation element comprises a surface which comprises a concave region; in particular wherein the simulation element comprises a further surface which comprises a convex region, wherein the surface and the further surface are facing each other.

34. The dummy device according to claim 30, wherein the simulation element comprises a surface and a further surface which is facing the surface, wherein the surface and the further surface are substantially planar.

35. The dummy device according to claim 30, wherein the simulation element comprises a radar reflecting element and the signals are radar waves.

36. The dummy device according to claim 30, wherein the simulation element is attached and rotatably mounted at a pivoting point at the base body, and wherein the simulation element is configured to perform at least one of a rotational motion and a pendulum motion around the pivoting point.

37. The dummy device according to claim 36, wherein the simulation element comprises: a rod-shaped element whose main extension direction runs substantially in a radial direction from the pivoting point, and at least one reflecting and/or emitting element which is attached to the rod-shaped element; in particular wherein the distance in the radial direction between the pivoting point and the reflecting and/or emitting element is smaller than the diameter d.sub.r of the simulation region, in particular smaller than ½ d.sub.r.

38. The dummy device according to claim 37, wherein the rod-shaped element extends from both sides of the pivoting point, wherein the simulation element comprises a second reflecting and/or emitting element, wherein the second reflecting and/or emitting element is attached at the rod-shaped element, wherein the reflecting and/or emitting element and the second reflecting and/or emitting element are attached on opposing sides of the pivoting point.

39. The dummy device according to claim 36, wherein the simulation element comprises: a disk which is rotatably mounted at the pivoting point, and at least one reflecting and/or emitting element which is attached at the circumference of the disk.

40. The dummy device according to claim 39, wherein the reflecting and/or emitting element is a metallic element, in particular a metallic tape.

41. The dummy device according to claim 39, wherein the simulation element comprises at least one further reflecting and/or emitting element, wherein the reflecting and/or emitting element and the further reflecting and/or emitting element respectively comprise a surface and respectively a further surface which is opposing the surface, wherein the surface is configured to reflect and/or to emit the signals more strongly than the further surface, wherein the surface of the reflecting and/or emitting element and the surface of the further reflecting and/or emitting element along the circumference of the disk are pointing in opposing directions.

42. The dummy device according to claim 41, wherein the reflecting and/or emitting element and the further reflecting and/or emitting element are alternatingly attached along the circumference.

43. The dummy device according to claim 39, comprising at least one of the following features: wherein the diameter dx of the disk is smaller than the diameter d.sub.r of the simulation region, in particular smaller than ½ d.sub.r; wherein the disk is configured such that it is rotatable with an angular velocity, so that the reflecting and/or emitting element is movable substantially with the same velocity as the movable part of the object to be simulated.

44. The dummy device according to claim 30, wherein the simulation element comprises: a rod-shaped element and at least one reflecting and/or emitting element which is attached at an end of the rod-shaped element.

45. The dummy device according to claim 44, comprising at least one of the following features: wherein the rod-shaped element is configured to perform a substantially linear motion, in particular substantially along the main extension axis of the rod-shaped element; wherein a surface with a retroreflecting element of the reflecting and/or emitting element is aligned substantially perpendicularly to the main extension axis; wherein the rod-shaped element is arranged at the simulation region such that the rod-shaped element is movable with a velocity which substantially corresponds to a velocity component of the movable part of the object to be simulated; wherein the velocity of the rod-shaped element is changeable in a sinusoidal manner over time.

46. The dummy device according to claim 30, comprising at least one of the following features: wherein the base body is configured to simulate at least one of a car, a motorcycle, a bicycle, a human, in particular a pedestrian, and an animal, in particular a wild boar or a deer; wherein the simulation region is configured to simulate at least one of a thigh, a knee, a shank, a foot, an upper arm, an elbow, a forearm, a hand, a paw, a wheel and a wheel rim.

47. A test system comprising: a dummy device for performing tests for driver assistance systems, comprising: a base body with a simulation region, wherein the base body depicts an object to be simulated and the simulation region depicts a movable part of the object to be simulated; at least one simulation element which is arranged at the simulation region; wherein the simulation element is configured to reflect and/or to emit signals such that a motion of the movable part of the object to be simulated is simulatable, a transmitter which is configured to transmit the signals, wherein the simulation element of the dummy device is configured to reflect the transmitted signal; a receiver which is configured to receive the reflected signal; a signal processing unit which is configured to analyze the received signal.

48. The test system according to claim 47, comprising at least one of the following features: wherein a frequency distribution of the reflected signal comprises an information about a motion of the base body and/or a motion of the simulation element; wherein the base body and the movable simulation element are configured and movable such that the frequency distribution of the reflected signal is indicative for a further frequency distribution of a further reflected signal which is reflectable from the object to be simulated, wherein the frequency distribution is definable by at least one of the following parameters: a width of the frequency distribution, a period duration of a temporal variation of the frequency distribution, an intensity of the frequency distribution and an amplitude and/or a frequency of at least one maximum of the frequency distribution.

49. A method of operating a dummy device, the method comprising: providing a dummy device, wherein the dummy device comprises a base body with a simulation region and at least one simulation element which is arranged at the simulation region and is movable relatively to the simulation region; moving the simulation element relatively to the simulation region such that a motion of a movable part of an object to be simulated is simulated, wherein the simulation region depicts the movable part of the object to be simulated, wherein the simulation element is configured to reflect and/or to emit signals.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

[0072] In the following, for further explanation and for a better understanding of the embodiments of the present invention, embodiments are described in more detail with reference to the accompanied drawings. It is shown by:

[0073] FIG. 1 a perspective illustration of a section of a dummy device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention,

[0074] FIG. 2 a perspective illustration of a simulation element of a dummy device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention,

[0075] FIG. 3 a perspective illustration of a simulation region and a simulation element according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention,

[0076] FIG. 4 a side view of the simulation element of FIG. 3,

[0077] FIG. 5 a side view of a simulation element according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention,

[0078] FIG. 6 a perspective illustration of a section of a dummy device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention,

[0079] FIG. 7 a schematic illustration of a test system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention,

[0080] FIG. 8 a perspective illustration of a dummy device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention,

[0081] FIG. 9 a perspective illustration of the dummy device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, and

[0082] FIG. 10 a dummy device and a detail view of an associated simulation element according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0083] Same or similar components in different figures are provided with the same reference numbers. The illustrations in the figures are schematic.

[0084] FIG. 1 shows a dummy device 100 for performing tests for driver assistance systems according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The dummy device 100 comprises a base body 101 with a simulation region 102, wherein the base body depicts an object to be simulated and the simulation region 102 depicts a movable part of the object to be simulated. Moreover, the dummy device 100 comprises at least one simulation element 103 which is arranged at the simulation region 102 and which is movable relatively to the simulation region 102. The simulation element 103 is configured to reflect and/or emit signal waves 704, 705 (see FIG. 7) such that a motion of the movable part of the object to be simulated is simulatable.

[0085] In the embodiment in FIG. 1, the dummy device 101 is a motorcycle dummy which is only partially shown. Correspondingly, the base body 101 is a motorcycle base body. The motorcycle base body simulates a motorcycle. Therefore, the base body 101 in its geometrical dimensions may approximately correspond to an actual motorcycle. The base body 101 may be manufactured from other materials than an actual motorcycle and may possess a less complex structure than an actual motorcycle.

[0086] The base body 101 comprises a simulation region 102 which simulates or reproduces a movable element of the motorcycle. In FIG. 1, the simulation region 102 is a region of the base body 101 which depicts the front wheel of the motorcycle and in this case is analog in its dimensions and/or its position with respect to the base body 101 to a front wheel. The simulation region 102 may be only analog to the wheel rim of the front wheel.

[0087] The simulation element 103 according to the exemplary embodiment in FIG. 1 is arranged at the simulation region 102 and is movable relatively to the simulation region 102, in particular also movable relatively to the base body 101 which comprises the simulation region 102. The simulation element 103 according to the embodiment in FIG. 1 comprises a rod-shaped element 106 which is attached and rotatably mounted to a pivoting point 105 at the simulation region 102. The main extension direction 107 of the rod-shaped element runs substantially in the radial direction from the pivoting point 105, wherein the rod-shaped element extends only on one side of the pivoting point. The simulation element 102 may further comprise a further rod-shaped element 109 which is connected to the rod-shaped element 106, extends perpendicularly to the rod-shaped element 106, and whose main extension direction runs along the rotation axis of the simulation element and forms the rotation axis of the simulation element, respectively.

[0088] A reflecting and/or emitting element 108 is attached to the end of the rod-shaped element 106 which is not connected to the further rod-shaped element 109. The reflecting and/or emitting element 108 may comprise a retroreflecting element 104. A surface which comprises the retroreflecting element 104 may be arranged such that the normal vector of the surface is pointing to a possible rotation direction. An angle range in which the retroreflecting element 104 reflects with a large or maximum intensity may be symmetrically arranged around the possible rotation direction. Furthermore, the reflecting and/or emitting element 108 may comprise a further retroreflecting element which is arranged at a further surface which is facing the surface with the retroreflecting element 104.

[0089] FIG. 2 shows an enlarged illustration of the simulation element of FIG. 1, wherein the rod-shaped element 106 extends on both sides of the pivoting point 105. This may but does not have to mean a continuity of the rod-shaped element 106 in the region of the pivoting point 105. The rod-shaped element 106 may also consist of two spatially separated regions which extend to opposite sides of the pivoting point in the same direction.

[0090] The reflecting and/or emitting element 108 may comprise a surface 201 which comprises a concave region 202. For example, such a concave region 202 may form a retroreflecting element, in particular a triple mirror. The surface 201 may be aligned in a possible moving direction of the reflecting and/or emitting element.

[0091] A further reflecting and/or emitting element 203 may be attached at the rod-shaped element 106 such that the reflecting and/or emitting element 108 and the further reflecting and/or emitting element 203 are attached on opposing sides of the pivoting point. The further reflecting and/or emitting element 203 may also comprise at least one surface with a concave region and/or a retroreflecting element. The surface with the concave region and/or the retroreflecting element, such as in the case of the reflecting and/or emitting element 108, may be aligned in a possible moving direction or rotation direction of the further reflecting and/or emitting element 203.

[0092] FIG. 3 shows a simulation region 102 and a simulation element 103 according to an exemplary embodiment. The simulation region 102 may be disk-shaped and may depict the wheel or the wheel rim of a motorcycle or a motor vehicle, for example. The simulation element 103 may comprise a disk 301 which is attached and rotatably mounted at a pivoting point 105 at the simulation region 102. In particular, the pivoting point 105 may be arranged at least approximately in a center of the simulation region 102 and may be connected to a center of the disk 301, such that the disk 301 and the simulation region 102 are arranged approximately concentrically. The disk may comprise a radius d.sub.s. The simulation region 102 may comprise a radius d.sub.r, wherein the radius ci, may be smaller than the radius d.sub.r, in particular smaller than ⅔ d.sub.r, in particular smaller than ½ d.sub.r, in particular smaller than ⅓ d.sub.r, in particular smaller than ¼ d.sub.r, in particular smaller than 1/10 d.sub.r. The radius d.sub.s may also be as large as or larger than d.sub.r. The term “radius” may also be understood in a more general sense than an average extension of a body in different directions.

[0093] At or on the circumference of the disk 301, reflecting and/or emitting elements 108 may be arranged. These may be disk-shaped or plate-shaped. Main surfaces of the reflecting and/or emitting elements 108 may be aligned in the moving direction, that is the normal vector of the main surface may be aligned substantially in parallel to the moving direction of the reflecting and/or emitting element 108, in other words in parallel to a direction which runs tangentially to the circumference of the disk 301. Further reflecting and/or emitting elements 302 may be arranged such that they are differently aligned than the reflecting and/or emitting elements 108 with respect to a moving direction or rotating direction.

[0094] FIG. 4 shows a side view of the simulation element 103 of FIG. 3 according to an exemplary embodiment. A plurality of reflecting and/or emitting elements 108 and a plurality of further reflecting and/or emitting elements 302 are arranged at or on the circumference of the disk 301. The reflecting and/or emitting elements 108 and the further reflecting and/or emitting elements 302 respectively comprise a surface 201 with a concave region and a further surface 401 with a convex region 402, wherein for each element, the surface 201 is facing the further surface 401. The surface 201 may be aligned in the circumferential direction of the disk, that is the normal vector of the surface may be substantially parallel to a direction which runs tangentially to the circumference of the disk 301. In the same way, the further surface 401 may be aligned in the circumferential direction of the disk 301. The concave region may be formed as a triple mirror. The convex region 402 may be formed by the backside of the triple mirror. The surface with the concave region may represent a retroreflecting element.

[0095] The surfaces 201 of the reflecting and/or emitting elements 108 may be aligned in an opposite direction along the circumference of the disk 301 compared to the surfaces 401 of the further reflecting and/or emitting elements 302. The reflecting and/or emitting elements 108 and the further reflecting and/or emitting elements 302 may be alternatingly arranged along the circumference. They may have substantially a same distance with respect to each other, in particular the distance between adjacent elements may be substantially the same. At opposite positions on or at the circumference of the disk 301, respectively elements of the same type may be arranged, thus respectively either reflecting and/or emitting elements 108 or respectively further reflecting and/or emitting elements 302. At opposite positions on or at the circumference of the disk 301, also respectively elements of a different type may be arranged, thus respectively a reflecting and/or emitting element 108 opposite to a further reflecting and/or emitting element 302.

[0096] FIG. 5 shows a side view of a simulation element 103 according to an exemplary embodiment. The simulation element 103 comprises a disk 301 and a plurality of reflecting and/or emitting elements 108. The reflecting and/or emitting elements 108 are disk-shaped or plate-shaped. Main surfaces 501, 502 of the reflecting and/or emitting elements 108 are aligned in the circumferential direction of the disk 301, i.e. their normal vector is aligned in parallel to the circumference of the disk. Two main surfaces 501, 502 of a reflecting and/or emitting element are respectively facing each other and are aligned in opposite directions. In contrast to the embodiment according to FIG. 4, the main surfaces 501 and 502 are configured similarly. In particular, they comprise a similar reflection behavior.

[0097] FIG. 6 shows a dummy device 100 according to an exemplary embodiment. The dummy device 100 is a person dummy which is only partially depicted. Correspondingly, the base body 101 is a person base body. The person base body simulates a person. Therefore, it may correspond in its geometrical dimensions approximately to an actual person, for example a pedestrian, but may be manufactured from other materials than an actual pedestrian and may possess a much less complex structure than an actual pedestrian.

[0098] The person base body comprises a simulation region 102 which simulates or depicts a movable element of the person. In FIG. 6, the simulation region 102 is a region of the base body 101 which depicts an upper arm of the person and which is analog to an upper arm in view of its dimensions and/or its position with respect to the base body 101. The simulation region in its dimension and its position does not have to match the depicted movable part of an object to be simulated.

[0099] The simulation element 103 according to the exemplary embodiment in FIG. 6 is arranged at the simulation region 102 and is movable relatively to the simulation region 102, in particular also movable relatively to the base body 101 which comprises the simulation region 102. The simulation element 103 according to the embodiment of FIG. 6 comprises a rod-shaped element 106 which is configured to perform a substantially linear motion substantially along the main extension axis 107 of the rod-shaped element 106, in particular a linear motion wherein the rod-shaped element 106 moves alternatingly forth and back, in particular moves periodically forth and back. The linear motion of the rod-shaped element may be generated by the motion along a rail, for example.

[0100] A reflecting and/or emitting element 108 is attached to an end of the rod-shaped element 106. The reflecting and/or emitting element 108 may comprise a surface with a retroreflecting element 104 and/or with a concave region, wherein the surface is aligned substantially along the main extension axis 107 of the rod-shaped element 106. In other words, a normal vector of the surface is substantially parallel to the main extension axis 107. The motion of the simulation element, in particular of the reflecting and/or emitting element, may simulate the pendulum motion of an upper arm, for example, in particular the pendulum motion of an elbow.

[0101] According to an exemplary embodiment, the simulation element 103 of FIG. 6 may also simulate a wheel and/or a wheel rim. The simulation element 103 may be arranged in the center of a simulation region which depicts the wheel and/or the wheel rim. The linear motion of the rod-shaped element 106 and of the reflecting and/or emitting element 108 may simulate the alternating forth and backwards motion of a point on or at the wheel and/or the wheel rim, projected on a direction which is analog to the main extension direction of the rod-shaped element. For this purpose, the linear motion of the rod-shaped element relatively to the simulation region 102 in particular may comprise a sinus-shaped velocity distribution. Furthermore, the main extension direction of the rod-shaped element may be substantially parallel to a surface, for example a road, on which the dummy device moves. The main extension direction may be aligned along the base body or parallel to the base body, in particular along the simulation region or parallel to the simulation region.

[0102] FIG. 7 shows a test system 700 according to an exemplary embodiment. The test system 700 comprises a dummy device 100 according to embodiments of the invention which comprises a base body 101 and a simulation element 103. Moreover, the test system 700 comprises a test unit 710. The test unit comprises a transmitter 701 which is configured to transmit the signal waves 704 to the base body 101 and/or the simulation element 103, wherein the simulation element 103 and/or the base body 101 of the dummy device 100 are configured to reflect the transmitted signal 704. The test unit 710 further comprises a receiver 702 which is configured to receive the reflected signal 705, and the test unit 710 comprises a signal processing unit 703 which is configured to analyze the received signal. A frequency distribution of the reflected signal 705, in particular a difference between the frequency distribution of the transmitted signal 704 and the frequency distribution of the received signal, may comprise an information about a motion of the base body 101 and/or a motion of the simulation element 103 of the dummy device.

[0103] FIG. 8 shows a dummy device 100 according to an exemplary embodiment. The dummy device 100 is a car dummy. Correspondingly, the base body 101 is a car base body. The car base body depicts a car. Therefore, in its geometrical dimensions, it may approximately correspond to an actual car, but may be manufactured from other materials than an actual car and may possess a much less complex structure than an actual car. The car base body comprises a simulation region 102 which simulates a movable element of the car. The movable element to be simulated of the car may be a wheel in this case, in particular a wheel rim. A simulation element 103 is arranged at the simulation region 102 and is movable relatively to the simulation region 102. The simulation element 103 may comprise a disk-shaped element.

[0104] FIG. 9 shows a dummy device 100 according to an exemplary embodiment. The dummy device 100 is a motorcycle dummy. Correspondingly, the base body 101 is a motorcycle base body. The motorcycle base body comprises a simulation region 102 which simulates a movable element of the motorcycle. The movable element of the motorcycle to be simulated may be a wheel, in particular a wheel rim. A simulation element 103 is arranged at the simulation region 102 and is movable relatively to the simulation region 102. The simulation element 103 may comprise a disk-shaped element. The front wheel and the back wheel of the motorcycle may be simulated respectively separatedly.

[0105] Moreover, in FIG. 9, a driver dummy is shown as a further dummy device 100′. The base body 101′ is a driver base body. The driver base body comprises a simulation region 102′ which simulates a movable element of the driver. The movable element to be simulated is an arm in this case, in particular an upper arm, of the driver. The simulation element 103′ is arranged at the simulation region 102′ and is movable relatively to the simulation region 102′, for example movable in a pendulum-type manner. The simulation element 103′ may comprise a rod-shaped element, for example, which is connected to the simulation region 102′ by a hinge. The both dummy devices 100 and 100′ may also be interpreted as one single dummy device with multiple simulation regions and corresponding simulation elements.

[0106] FIG. 10 shows a dummy device 100 according to an exemplary embodiment. In this case, the dummy device 100 is a human dummy. The base body 101 of the dummy is rigid, i.e. has no movable parts. In particular, the arms and the legs of the dummy are immovable. At each extremity, i.e. at each leg and at each arm, a simulation element 103 is movably attached. The simulation elements 103 are respectively attached to the center of the extremities, i.e. at a region of the knee or the elbow. As shown in the detail view on the top left in FIG. 10, the simulation elements 103 are formed correspondingly to the embodiment which is shown in FIG. 6. The moving direction of the simulation elements 103 may be perpendicular to the extension direction of the extremities and/or perpendicular to the main extension direction of the dummy.

[0107] Supplementary, it should be noted that “encompassing” does not exclude any other elements or steps and “a” or “an” does not exclude a plurality. Furthermore, it should be noted that features or steps which are described with reference to one of the above embodiments may also be used in combination with other features or steps of other embodiments described above. Reference signs in the claims are not to be construed as limitation.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0108] 100 dummy device [0109] 101 base body [0110] 102 simulation region [0111] 103 simulation element [0112] 104 retroreflecting element [0113] 105 pivoting point [0114] 106 rod-shaped element [0115] 107 main extension direction [0116] 108 reflecting and/or emitting element [0117] 201 surface of the simulation element [0118] 202 concave region [0119] 203 second reflecting and/or emitting element [0120] 301 disk [0121] 302 further reflecting and/or emitting element [0122] 401 further surface of the simulation element [0123] 402 convex region [0124] 700 test system [0125] 701 transmitter [0126] 702 receiver [0127] 703 signal processing unit [0128] 704 transmitted signals [0129] 705 reflected signals [0130] 710 test unit [0131] d.sub.s radius of the disk [0132] d.sub.r radius of the simulation region