MOVABLE PLATFORM FOR A DUMMY ELEMENT

Abstract

The present invention relates to a platform for testing of collisions or near-collision situations between a dummy element and an object to be tested, in particular a vehicle. The platform comprises a base body having a bottom surface and a mounting surface formed opposite to the bottom surface, wherein the dummy element is attachable to the mounting surface. The platform further comprises a roller element arranged at the bottom surface, wherein the roller element is drivable such that the base body is movable along a ground. Further, the platform comprises an alignment device which aligns the base body on the ground in a predetermined orientation.

Claims

1-16. (canceled)

17. A platform for testing of collisions or near-collision situations between a dummy element and an object to be tested, the platform comprising: a base body having a bottom surface and a mounting surface formed opposite to the bottom surface, wherein the dummy element is attachable to the mounting surface, a roller element arranged at the bottom surface, wherein the roller element is drivable such that the base body is movable along a ground, and an alignment device which aligns the base body on the ground in a predetermined orientation.

18. The platform according to claim 17, wherein the object to be tested is a vehicle.

19. The platform according to claim 17, wherein the platform comprises exactly one single roller element.

20. The platform according to claim 18, wherein the roller element is controllable relative to the base body about a steering axis to adjust a direction of movement of the base body.

21. The platform according to claim 17, wherein the roller element is rotationally fixed relative to the base body about a longitudinal axis.

22. The platform according to claim 17, wherein the roller element is configured to drive the base body along a direction of extension of the base body, wherein the alignment device is arranged along the direction of extension behind the roller element.

23. The platform according to claim 22, wherein the alignment device comprises a ground contact element which is adapted to contact the ground during a movement of the base body along the ground.

24. The platform according to claim 23, wherein the ground contact element is adapted to contact the ground during a movement of the base body along the ground by means of a sliding contact.

25. The platform according to claim 23, wherein the ground contact element comprises a hemispherical body.

26. The platform according to claim 24, wherein the ground contact element forms at least one lamella which has a direction of extension having a component parallel to the direction of extension of the base body.

27. The platform according to claim 26, wherein the angle between the direction of extension of the lamella and the direction of extension of the base body is less than 45°.

28. The platform according to claim 23, wherein the ground contact member comprises a plurality of elastic pin elements extending between the bottom surface and the ground along a direction of extension of the ground, wherein the direction of extension of the ground has a directional component extending along a ground plane perpendicular to the direction of extension of the base body.

29. The platform according to claim 23, wherein the ground contact member comprises a plurality of elastic pin elements extending between the bottom surface and the ground along a direction of extension of the ground, wherein the direction of extension of the ground has a directional component which is opposite to the direction of extension of the base body.

30. The platform according to claim 17, wherein the alignment device comprises a movable mass body which is controllable such that the base body is adjustable on the ground in the predetermined orientation.

31. The platform according to claim 30, wherein the movable mass body is arranged at a distance from the roller element and the mass body is acceleratable along a direction unequal to the direction of extension of the base body.

32. The platform according to claim 30, wherein the mass body is movable about the roller element.

33. The platform according to claim 32, wherein the mass body is movable about the roller element along a circular or elliptical path, or along a linear path.

34. The platform according to claim 30, wherein the alignment device comprises a guide rail which extends with a directional component perpendicular to the direction of extension of the base body, wherein the alignment device further comprises a drive unit for moving the mass body along the guide rail.

35. The platform according to claim 17, further comprising an air guiding element which is movably attachable to the base body, wherein the air guiding element is controllable such that a flow resistance of the base body is adjustable to generate a braking effect or a steering effect.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0039] In the following, for further explanation and for a better understanding of the present invention, embodiments are described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0040] FIG. 1A a schematic bottom view of a platform with a hemispherical body as a ground contact element according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention

[0041] FIG. 1B a schematic side view of the platform of FIG. 1A.

[0042] FIG. 2A a schematic bottom view of a platform with elastic pin elements as a ground contact element according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention.

[0043] FIG. 2B a schematic side view of the platform of FIG. 2A.

[0044] FIG. 3 a schematic bottom view of a platform with lamellae as a ground contact element according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention.

[0045] FIG. 4 a schematic bottom view of a platform with a linearly movable mass body of the alignment device according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention.

[0046] FIG. 5 a schematic bottom view of a platform with a circularly movable mass body of the alignment device according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

[0047] The same or similar components in different figures are provided with the same reference numerals. The illustrations in the figures are schematic.

[0048] FIG. 1A shows a schematic bottom view of a platform 100 with a hemispherical body 111 as a ground contact element according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention. FIG. 1B shows a schematic side view of the platform of FIG. 1A. The platform 100 has a base body 101 which has a bottom surface 102 and a mounting surface 103 formed opposite to the bottom surface 102, wherein a dummy element 106 is attachable to the mounting surface 103. The platform 100 further comprises a roller element 104 arranged at the bottom surface 102, wherein the roller element 104 is drivable such that the base body 101 is movable along a ground 105. Further, the platform 100 comprises an alignment device 110 which aligns the base body 101 on the ground 105 in a predetermined orientation.

[0049] The dummy element 106 mounted on the platform 100 is, for example, a human-like dummy which is mounted upright on the platform 100. The platform 100 is drivable by the roller element 104 and movable along a ground 105. The platform 100, on which the dummy element 106 is arranged, may cross the travel path of the object to be tested, so that the approach of the dummy element 106 to the object to be tested may be measured by means of driver assistance systems and these may be tested at the same time.

[0050] The platform 100 comprises the base body 101, which forms a plate-like shape. The base body 101 has a bottom surface 102 and an opposite mounting surface 103. The base body 101 is placed with its bottom surface 102 on a ground 105. In the bottom surface 102, the roller element 104 is drivably arranged, which projects at least partially from the base body 101 and thus provides a distance between the base body 101 and the ground 105. The dummy element 106 is mounted on the mounting surface 103, for example by means of a mounting device.

[0051] The roller element 104 is in particular arranged in the front region in the direction of movement 107 of the platform 100, i.e. in the front half with respect to a predefined direction of movement 107 of the platform 100.

[0052] The platform 100 is movable along the ground 105 along a direction of movement 107 by means of the at least one roller element 104. In particular, the platform 100 has a direction of extension 107 which is defined parallel to a desired and predefined direction of movement 107 of the platform 100. The platform 100 is configured to be freely movable in that the roller element 104 itself is driven and, according to an exemplary embodiment, is configured to be steerable or rigid and non-steerable.

[0053] Furthermore, the platform 100 or its base body 101 has a central axis 108. In particular, the central axis 108 extends from a front end in the direction of movement 107 through a center of the base body 101 to a rear end and forms, for example, an axis of symmetry/mirror axis of the platform 100.

[0054] Further, the platform 100 comprises the alignment device 110 which aligns the base body 101 on the ground 105 in a predetermined orientation. In particular, the predetermined alignment may be the alignment in which the direction of extension 107 of the platform is adjusted parallel to a desired direction of movement 107 of the platform. In particular, the alignment device 110 is arranged at a distance from the roller element 104. In particular, the alignment device 110 is arranged behind the roller element 104 in the direction of extension or direction of movement 107 of the platform.

[0055] The alignment devices 110 in the embodiments of FIGS. 1 to 3 are configured to align the platform 100 in a predetermined orientation, for example, via a resistance to movement with the ground 105 or an active orientation system in the embodiments of FIGS. 4 and 5.

[0056] For example, the alignment device 110 in the embodiments of FIGS. 1 to 3 has a higher resistance to movement or a higher frictional force against the direction of movement 107 with the ground 105 than the roller element 104 with the ground 105. As a result, when the platform 100 moves, in particular accelerates, in the direction of movement 107, an aligning moment is generated due to the distance between the alignment device 110 and the driving roller element 104, which forces the alignment device 110 behind the roller element 104 with respect to the direction of movement 107 and thus aligns the platform 100 in the predetermined orientation.

[0057] In the embodiments, the platform comprises exactly one single roller element 104. However, other embodiments with multiple roller elements are not excluded. Due to the pairing of a single roller element 104 with the alignment device 110, which automatically stabilizes the base body 101 for example during movement along the direction of movement 107, it is not necessary to provide two or more roller elements. Only one roller element 104, which in particular is drivable, and moving the platform 100 is sufficient.

[0058] The roller element 104 is controllable relative to the base body 101 about a steering axis to adjust a direction of movement 107 of the base body 101.

[0059] In the exemplary embodiments of FIGS. 1 to 3, the alignment device 110 is formed with a ground contact element configured to contact, in particular by means of a sliding contact, the ground 105 during the movement (travel) of the base body 101 along the ground 105. The ground contact element thus forms a frictional contact with the ground 105. The ground contact element thus exhibits a higher resistance to movement or a higher frictional force with the ground than the roller element 104 with the ground 105. This results in an aligning moment being generated during movement, in particular acceleration, of the platform 100 in the direction of movement 107 due to the distance of the alignment device 110 from the driving roller element 104.

[0060] In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1A, 1B, the ground contact element comprises a hemispherical body 111. A hemispherical shape 111 generates a small contact area with the ground 105.

[0061] FIG. 2A shows a schematic bottom view of a platform 100 with elastic pin elements 201 as ground contact elements according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention. FIG. 2B is a schematic side view of the platform of FIG. 2A. The pin elements 201 extend between the bottom surface 102 and the ground 105 along a direction of extension of the ground, wherein the direction of extension of the ground has a directional component extending along a ground plane perpendicular to the direction of extension 107 of the base body 101. The pin elements 201 extend along the direction of extension of the ground and have an angle α between the direction of extension 107 of the base body 101 and their direction of extension of the ground of less than 45°. Thereby, the pin elements extend towards the rear end in a direction opposite to the direction of movement 107 of the platform 100.

[0062] In particular, the elastic pin elements 201 exhibit a high resistance along their longitudinal direction and may be elastically deformed transversely to their longitudinal direction. For example, the elastic pin elements 201 may form a thin hair-like mat/pelt, with each of the pin elements 201 being selectively aligned. In other words, the pin elements 201 extend outwardly from the bottom surface of the platform in the direction of the ground, i.e. opposite to a central axis 108 of the platform 100. Thus, when the platform 100 moves in a rotational motion about the roller element 104 and thus from this central position, the pin elements 201 create a higher resistance.

[0063] The pin elements 201 are further arranged such that the ground extension direction has a directional component that is opposite to the direction of extension or direction of movement 107 of the base body 101 (see angle β in FIG. 2B). Thus, when the platform 100 moves in the forward direction 107, less resistance is generated by the pin elements 201 than when the platform 100 moves backward.

[0064] FIG. 3 shows a schematic bottom view of a platform 100 with lamellae 301 as a ground contact element according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention. The lamellae 301 have a direction of extension having a component parallel to the direction of extension 107 of the base body 101. In other words, the lamellae 301 form a friction surface with the ground 105 which has a longer extension in a direction of extension or a direction of movement 107 of the base body 101 than in a direction transverse or orthogonal to the direction of extension 107. As a result, a friction force orthogonal to the direction of movement 107 is greater than a friction force parallel to the direction of movement 107. Accordingly, when the platform 100 moves over the ground 105, on the one hand, a resistance orthogonal to the direction of movement 107 is increased compared to a resistance parallel to the direction of movement 107, and a moment is generated which brings the lamella 301 and thus the platform 100 as possible into an orientation with the lowest frictional force transverse to the direction of movement 107. This orientation typically corresponds to the predetermined orientation of the platform.

[0065] The angle α between the direction of extension of the lamella 301 and the direction of extension/direction of movement 107 of the base body is less than 45°.

[0066] Further, various ground contact elements may be provided on a corresponding platform 100, for example, as shown in FIGS. 1A to 3. Further, additional roller elements 104 may also be seen.

[0067] FIG. 4 is a schematic bottom view of a platform 100 with a linearly movable mass body 401 of the alignment device 110 according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention. The mass body 401 is controllable such that the base body 101 is adjustable on the ground in the predetermined orientation. The movable mass body 401 is arranged at a distance from the roller element 104, and the mass body 401 is acceleratable along a direction unequal to the direction of extension 107 of the base body 101. In particular, the direction of movement 400 of the second mass body does not extend through the bearing of the roller element 104, but runs past it, so that a moment is generated around the roller element 104 when the mass body 401 moves.

[0068] Due to the acceleration of the mass body 401 along its direction of movement 402 unequal to the direction of extension or direction of movement 107 of the base body 101, a torque of the platform 100 about the roller element 104 is generated. The acceleration of the mass body 401 may be selectively controlled, for example by a control device, so that a desired predetermined orientation of the platform 100 may be adjustable therewith. For example, in this embodiment, a steerable roller element 104 may be dispensed with, since the directional adjustment of the direction of movement 107 or the orientation of the platform 100 is performed by the mass element. By selectively accelerating the mass body 401, the platform 100 is moved in the opposite direction with respect to the direction of acceleration of the mass body 401 due to the inertia. The roller element 104 is, for example, rotationally fixed about a longitudinal axis, i.e. non-steerable.

[0069] The alignment device 110 has a guide rail 403 extending with a directional component perpendicular to the direction of extension 107 of the base body 101. The alignment device 110 further comprises a drive unit for moving the mass body along the guide rail 403. The drive unit represents for example an electric motor, in particular a linear motor.

[0070] In the embodiment example of FIG. 4, the mass body 401 is driven more linearly along the direction of movement 402. In particular, the mass body 401 is arranged behind the roller element 104 in the direction of movement 107. Additionally or alternatively, a further mass element 401′ may be arranged in front of the roller element 104 in the direction of movement 107. For example, the further mass element 401′ may become more linear along a further direction of movement 402′ along a guide rail 403′.

[0071] FIG. 5 shows a schematic bottom view of a platform with a circularly movable mass body 401 of the alignment device 110 according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention. The mass body 401 is movable about the roller element 104, in particular along a circular path or direction of movement 107.

[0072] In the embodiments of FIG. 4 and FIG. 5, the base body 101 may be in direct contact with the ground 105 at other areas and may drag along the ground 105 while moving. Due to the lightweight construction of the platform 100, no great wear or abrasion occurs. Furthermore, in addition to the moving mass body 401, the alignment device 110 may also comprise other ground contact elements, for example corresponding to pin elements, hemispherical bodies or lamellae.

[0073] Supplementally, it should be noted that “comprising” does not exclude other elements or steps and “a” or “an” does not exclude a plurality. It should further be noted that features or steps that have been described with reference to any 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 regarded as a limitation.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0074] 100 Platform [0075] 101 Base body [0076] 102 Bottom surface [0077] 103 Mounting surface [0078] 104 Roller element [0079] 105 Ground [0080] 106 Dummy element [0081] 107 Direction of extension of the base body/direction of movement [0082] 108 Central axis of the platform [0083] 110 Alignment device [0084] 111 Hemispherical body [0085] 201 Pin element [0086] 301 Lamella [0087] 302 Direction of extension of the lamella [0088] 401 Mass body [0089] 402 Direction of movement of the mass body [0090] 403 Guide rail [0091] α Angle [0092] β Angle