Method for Performing a Towing Process, and Camera System for Recognizing a Towing Process, as well as Motor Vehicle with a Camera System

Abstract

A method of performing a towing process by a towing vehicle (10) involves activating a towing mode (S1) and adapting a vehicle speed of the towing vehicle to a towing speed (S2). A camera system (100) for recognizing a towing process includes at least one camera (12) arranged on the rear of a vehicle, for detecting at least one sub-region located behind the vehicle, and an image processing device (16) configured to recognize a towing device (14) in detected image data, whereby a towing mode may be activated and/or terminated.

Claims

1. A method of performing a towing process by a towing vehicle (10), comprising the steps: activating a towing mode (S1), and adapting a vehicle speed of the towing vehicle to a specified towing speed (S2).

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the towing mode is activated with the assistance of a camera (12) for detecting a region located behind the towing vehicle (10), in particular a reversing camera, wherein the following steps are performed: detecting the region located behind the towing vehicle (10) using the camera (12), generating image data, recognizing in the image data at least one towing means (14), in particular a slack and/or moving tow rope.

3. The method according to claim 2, characterized in that the towing mode is terminated (S3) if at least one of the following situations is present: a tight or taut tow rope is recognized in the image data or detection of a predefined tractive force on the towing means (14) and/or tow rope.

4. The method according to claim 3, characterized in that, after termination of the towing mode, the towing speed is increased again and the towing vehicle driver is preferably able once again to drive the towing vehicle (10) at a vehicle speed they desire.

5. A camera system (100) for recognizing a towing process, having at least one camera (12) arranged on the rear of a vehicle, in particular a reversing camera, for detecting at least one sub-region located behind the vehicle (10); an image processing device (16), which is configured in such a way as to recognize a towing means (14) in the detected image data, whereby a towing mode may be activated and/or terminated.

6. The camera system (100) according to claim 5, characterized in that the camera system (100) has a control unit (18) which is configured such that it may bring a vehicle speed into line with a towing speed after recognition of a towing means (14) by the camera (12).

7. The camera system (100) according to claim 5, characterized by a force sensor (20) for measuring a tractive force in the towing means (14).

8. A motor vehicle (10) having a camera system (100) according to claim 5.

9. Use of a camera (12) arranged on the rear of a motor vehicle (10), in particular a reversing camera, for recognizing a towing process.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0033] Further advantageous configurations are revealed by the drawings, in which:

[0034] FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of a towing situation;

[0035] FIG. 2 is a schematic representation of a flow chart of a method according to the invention in one embodiment;

[0036] FIG. 3 is a schematic representation of speed profile of a towing vehicle during a towing process in one configuration;

[0037] FIG. 4 is a schematic representation of a camera system according to the invention in one embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

[0038] FIG. 1 shows a schematic representation of a towing situation. It shows a towing vehicle 10, which is towing another vehicle 22 by way of a towing means 14, in particular a tow rope. A camera system 100 with a camera 12 is arranged on the towing vehicle 10. The state of the tow rope can be recognized or analyzed by means of the camera system 100. As a function of the analysis of the state of the towing means 14, a towing mode is activated and/or deactivated or terminated. The camera 12 is preferably a reversing camera, which is at least temporarily active even during forward travel of the towing vehicle 10 and detects a region located behind the vehicle 10.

[0039] FIG. 2 shows a schematic representation of a flowchart of a method according to the invention for performing a towing process in one embodiment. In a first step S1 a towing mode is activated. Activation takes place in particular with the assistance of a camera 12, wherein a region located behind the vehicle 10 is detected by means of the camera 12, image data are generated and at least one towing means 14, in particular a slack tow rope, is recognized in the image data.

[0040] Once the towing mode has been activated, adaptation of the vehicle speed to a towing speed proceeds in a further step S2. The towing speed is in particular a fixed speed. Adaptation of the towing speed may in particular take place in that the speed at which the towing vehicle 10 is traveling at the time of activation of the towing mode is compared with the towing speed. If the vehicle speed is faster than the towing speed, then the speed at which the towing vehicle 10 can continue to move is slowed down from then on to the predefined value. This is shown in greater detail in FIG. 3.

[0041] In a further step S3 the towing mode may be automatically terminated. This takes place in particular when a taut tow rope is recognized in the image data and/or when a predefined tractive force is detected which prevails at the towing means or tow rope. After termination of the towing mode, the towing speed may be increased once again and the driver of the towing vehicle can decide freely about the speed at which they drive.

[0042] FIG. 3 shows a schematic representation of a speed profile of a towing vehicle 10 during a towing process in one configuration. At a time t1 a towing mode is activated. The speed of the towing vehicle 10 is here above a predefined towing speed. The speed is consequently slowed down to a towing speed. After termination of the towing mode, which is present at time t2, the towing speed is increased once again and the driver of the towing vehicle can once again decide their speed for themselves.

[0043] FIG. 4 shows a schematic representation of a camera system 100 according to the invention for recognizing a towing process in one embodiment. The camera system 100 comprises at least one camera 12 arranged on the rear of a vehicle, in particular a reversing camera, for detecting at least one sub-region located behind the vehicle 10. In addition, the camera system 100 comprises an image processing device 16, which is configured such that it recognizes a towing means 14 in the detected image data, whereby a towing mode may be activated and/or terminated. The camera system further comprises a control unit 18, which is configured such that it brings a vehicle speed into line with a towing speed after recognition of a towing means 14. To be able to determine a tractive force prevailing in the towing means 14, the camera system 100 may further comprise a force sensor 20.

[0044] The invention has been described above with reference to exemplary embodiments. It goes without saying that numerous amendments and modifications are possible without thereby going beyond the scope of protection defined by the claims. A combination of the various exemplary embodiments is also possible.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0045] 10 Towing vehicle [0046] 12 Camera [0047] 14 Towing means [0048] 16 Image processing device [0049] 18 Control unit [0050] 20 Force sensor [0051] 22 Vehicle to be towed [0052] 100 Camera system [0053] S1-S3 Method steps