Method and apparatus for recognizing whether traffic drives on the right or on the left

US6114973A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Robert Bosch GmbH · DE

Inventors

• Hermann Winner · Bietigheim, DE
• Stefan Witte · Minden, DE
• Alain Gaillard · Karlsruhe, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Sep 12, 1997
• Grant date: Sep 5, 2000
• Expiry date: Sep 12, 2017

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y10S367/909
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A method and an apparatus based thereon are described for the automatic recognition of whether, in a traffic situation or in a traffic environment, vehicles are driving on the right or on the left. Said method is used in a motor vehicle as part of adaptive speed control. The prevailing direction of traffic flow is determined on the basis of other vehicles, which are traveling toward the cited vehicle. For this purpose, a frequency distribution is created as a function of a lateral, preferably directional distance y; a center of gravity S of this frequency is determined; and then it is determined on what side of the controlled vehicle this center of gravity S is located.