Method for Locking and Releasing a Securing Device of a Vehicle Coupling, Theft Prevention System, and Vehicle

Abstract

A method for locking and releasing a securing device of a vehicle coupling of a vehicle includes switching the securing device between a locked state and a released state by a control command output by an authorization unit where the authorization unit outputs the control command after receiving an initiation command transmitted to the authorization unit by an interface and where a wireless communication interface and a local physical interface are useable as the interface. Sensor data, generated by a sensor that monitors surroundings of the vehicle, is transmitted via the wireless communication interface to a control center. The initiation command is transmitted to the vehicle by the control center via the wireless communication interface as a function of the sensor data. When there is no communication connection between the control center and the vehicle, it is only possible to output the initiation command via the local physical interface.

Claims

1.-9. (canceled)

10. A method for locking and releasing a securing device (1) of a vehicle coupling (2) of a vehicle (3), comprising the steps of: switching the securing device (1) between a locked state and a released state by a control command (5) output by an authorization unit (4), wherein the authorization unit (4) outputs the control command (5) after the authorization unit (4) has received an initiation command (6) which was transmitted to the authorization unit (4) by an interface and wherein a wireless communication interface (7) and a local physical interface (8) are useable as the interface; transmitting sensor data (15), generated by at least one sensor (9) of sensors (9) that monitor surroundings of the vehicle (3), via the wireless communication interface (7) to a control center (10); and transmitting the initiation command (6) to the vehicle (3) by the control center (10) via the wireless communication interface (7) as a function of the sensor data (15); wherein the vehicle (3) is controllable autonomously and wherein at least one camera and one microphone are used as the sensors (9); wherein when there is no communication connection between the control center (10) and the vehicle (3), it is only possible to output the initiation command (6) by way of the local physical interface (8).

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the sensors (9) further include: a radar; a sensor for determining whereabouts of the vehicle (3); a lidar; and/or an ultrasound sensor.

12. The method according to claim 10, wherein the local physical interface (8) outputs the initiation command (6) when the local physical interface (8) detects at least one of the following authorized actions: reading an authorized RFID tag; reading an authorized optoelectronic code; scanning an authorized biometric feature; inputting an authorized sequence of numbers and/or letters into an input device of the local physical interface (8); and/or receiving a wireless signal that is a transmitted via NFC, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and/or infrared.

13. The method according to claim 10, further comprising the step of transmitting a state of the securing device (1) to the control center (10) at a predetermined point in time.

14. The method according to claim 10, wherein the control center (10) is a vehicle control center for controlling an autonomous lorry.

15. A theft prevention system (11) for preventing an unauthorized removal of a trailer (12) connected via a vehicle coupling (2) to an autonomously controllable vehicle (3), comprising: a securing unit (1); an authorization unit (4); at least one sensor (9); and an interface; wherein a wireless communication interface (7) and a local physical interface (8) are useable as the interface; wherein at least one camera and one microphone are used as the at least one sensor (9); wherein the authorization unit (4) is configured to implement the method according to claim 10.

16. A vehicle (3), comprising: the theft prevention system (11) according to claim 15; wherein the vehicle (3) has an autonomous mode of operation.

17. The vehicle (3) according to claim 16, wherein the vehicle (3) is a tractor unit.

18. The vehicle (3) according to claim 16, wherein the vehicle (3) is a lorry.

19. The vehicle (3) according to claim 16, wherein the vehicle (3) is autonomously controllable by a vehicle control center.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0038] FIG. 1 is a side view of a vehicle according to the invention;

[0039] FIG. 2 is a basic illustration of a procedure for releasing a securing device of a vehicle coupling of the vehicle from FIG. 1; and

[0040] FIG. 3 is a schematic depiction of a theft prevention system according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0041] FIG. 1 shows a side view of an autonomously controllable vehicle 3 according to the invention, here in the form of a lorry. The lorry is a combination made up of a tractor unit 3.1 and a trailer 3.2 connected to the tractor unit 3.1 via a vehicle coupling 2. The vehicle coupling 2 in this case is a fifth-wheel coupling. So that the trailer 3.2 does not detach from the tractor unit 3.1 during transport with the latter, each half of the coupling made up of the tractor unit 3.1 and of the trailer 3.2 respectively are securely connected to each other. In order to prevent unintentional opening of the vehicle coupling 2, an engaged vehicle coupling 2 is secured against unintentional opening of the vehicle coupling 2 by way of an additional securing device 1. This prevents, for example, an undesired release of the trailer 3.2 from the tractor unit 3.1 and theft of the trailer 3.2. In order to be able to open the vehicle coupling 2, is it necessary to release the securing device 1 beforehand. For this purpose, the securing device 1 receives a control command 5, which is shown in FIG. 3 and which is output by an authorization unit 4. So that the authorization unit 4 can output the control command 5, the authorization unit 4 receives an initiation command 6, likewise shown in FIG. 3. The initiation command 6 can be output by a wireless communication interface 7 and/or a local physical interface 8. If communication via the communication interface 7 is not possible, then only the local physical interface 8 can output the initiation command 6.

[0042] The authorization unit 4 can be formed by a separate computing unit, or integrated into a central computing unit of the vehicle 3 or a control unit of a vehicle subsystem of the vehicle 3. The authorization unit 4, the wireless communication interface 7 and/or the local physical interface 8 can also be formed by a common unit. Furthermore, the vehicle 3 can have a display 13 on which a current status of the vehicle coupling 2 and/or of the securing device 1 can be displayed. The display 13 can also be comprised by an operating device 12, as depicted in FIG. 1. The operating device 12 can also be a constituent part of or form the local physical interface 8. For example, a code can be input via the operating device 12, which code is forwarded to the authorization unit 4 so that the latter outputs the control command to release the securing device 1 to release the vehicle coupling 2.

[0043] The vehicle 3 also comprises at least one camera and one microphone as well as optionally at least one further sensor 9, wherein a camera is depicted in FIG. 1 as sensor 9. The sensor 9 can also additionally or alternatively be in the form of one or more further microphones, radar sensors, a lidar, an ultrasound sensor and/or a sensor for determining the whereabouts of the vehicle 3. The sensor(s) 9 generate(s) sensor data 15, depicted in FIG. 3, which is transmitted via the wireless communication interface 7 to a control center 10, likewise depicted in FIG. 3. As a function of the sensor data 15, the control center 10 then forwards the initiation command 6 via the wireless communication interface 7 to the authorization unit 4 to output the control command 5.

[0044] FIG. 2 shows a basic illustration of a procedure for releasing the securing device 1 of the vehicle coupling 2 of the vehicle 3. In the left-hand half of FIG. 2, the vehicle 3 arrives at a police check. The police check requests that the trailer 3.2 be detached from the tractor unit 3.1. In order to be able to open the vehicle coupling 2, the securing device 1 first has to be released. For this purpose, a police officer 14 is detected by the sensors 9, for example a camera of the vehicle 3. The police office 14 can also issue an appropriate visual and/or acoustic signal to confirm that they are authorized to release the securing device 1. The police officer can, for instance, request that an operator of the vehicle 3 releases the trailer 3.2. The control center 10 can then decide to transmit the initiation command 6 to the vehicle 3 to output the control command 5 to release the securing device 1. This is shown in the right-hand half of FIG. 2.

[0045] It may sometimes be the case that there is no communication connection between vehicle 3 and control center 10, for example because the vehicle 3 is in a dead zone. In this case, the police officer 14 can identify themselves with the aid of the local physical interface 8. For this purpose, the police officer 14 can, for example, scan an authorized RFID tag or an optoelectronic code, input a predetermined sequence of numbers and/or letters into the local physical interface 8, and/or transmit a wireless authentication signal to the local physical interface 8, for example by transmitting a signal transmitted via an NFC, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and/or infrared interface. The police officer 14 can use, for example, a mobile device such as a smartphone, a smartwatch, a tablet computer and/or a laptop for this purpose.

[0046] FIG. 3 shows a schematic depiction of a theft prevention system 11 according to the invention. Here, as already mentioned, sensor data 15 generated by one or more sensors 9 are sent directly (symbolized by a dotted line) via the wireless communication interface 7 or indirectly (symbolized by a solid line) via the authorization unit 4 to the control center 10. The wireless communication can be effected using any proven communication technology, for example via mobile telephony such as 4G or 5G. The control center 10 is designed in particular as a vehicle control center.

[0047] Depending on a current situation, the control center 10 decides whether it is necessary to release the trailer 3.2 from the tractor unit 3.1. If this is the case, the control center 10 forwards the initiation command 6 to the authorization unit 4, whereupon the latter forwards the control command 5 to the securing device 1 to release the vehicle coupling 2. It is thus not possible to release the vehicle coupling 2 until the securing device 1 has been released. The initiation command 6 can also be output from the local physical interface 8 to the authorization unit 4.

[0048] The theft prevention system 11 according to the invention can optionally have the operating device 12 and/or the display 13, which is indicated by a dashed line. For example, the display 13 can show a current state 16 of the vehicle coupling 2 and/or a state 17 of the securing device 1. In addition, the local physical interface 8 can have a display 13 for presenting information. The state 16 of the vehicle coupling 2 and/or the state 17 of the securing device 1 can also be output acoustically. For example, when the vehicle coupling 2 engages or disengages and/or when the securing device 1 is locked and/or released, a corresponding warning tone and/or a corresponding text message can be output via a loudspeaker. To monitor the state 17 of the securing device 1 and/or the state 16 of the vehicle coupling 2, the securing device 1 and/or the vehicle coupling 2 have corresponding sensors which are not shown.