Method for controlling a safety system in a vehicle using an electric road system

A vehicle comprising a safety system for a current collector arranged to transmit electric power from a current conductor located in a predetermined transverse position in a surface of a road, wherein the current collector is arranged to be controllable for vertical and transverse displacement relative to a longitudinal axis of the vehicle, in order to maintain optimal contact, with a conductor and/or track the current conductor;

• the safety system comprising;
• at least one forward looking data collecting system for detecting obstacles on the road prior to impact with the current collector;
• and an electronic control unit for controlling at least power transmission in and displacement of the current collector;
• wherein that the at least one forward looking data collecting system is arranged to detect that an obstacle is located in a path of the current collector and to transmit data from the forward looking data collecting system to the electronic control unit;
• that the electronic control unit is arranged to perform an object classification to determine a damage level for the current collector based on transmitted data and to determine an action to be taken by the safety system based on a determined damage level;
• and that the electronic control unit is arranged to initiate the action in dependence of at least the determined damage level when the damage level exceeds a threshold, wherein the safety system initiates at least one of an interruption of power transmission from the current conductor;
• and a vertical retraction of the current collector into an at least partially retracted position when the damage level exceeds the threshold.

A control unit for controlling a vehicle safety system, the control unit being configured to perform the steps of:

• controlling the vehicle safety system with a current collector arranged to transmit electric power from a current conductor located in a predetermined transverse position in a surface of a road, wherein the current collector is controllable for vertical and transverse displacement relative to a longitudinal axis of a vehicle to contact and track the current conductor, a safety system comprising;
• at least one forward looking data collecting system for detecting obstacles on the road prior to impact with the current collector;
• and an electronic control unit for controlling at least power transmission and displacement of the current collector;
• comprising:
• detecting that an obstacle is located in a path of the current collector;
• transmitting data from the forward looking data collecting system to the electronic control unit;
• performing an object classification to determine a damage level for a dynamic charging system based on the transmitted data;
• determining an action to be taken by the safety system based on a determined damage level;
• and initiating the action in dependence of at least the determined damage level when the damage level exceeds a threshold, wherein the safety system initiates at least one of an interruption of power transmission from the current conductor;
• and a vertical retraction of the current collector into an at least partially retracted position when the damage level exceeds the threshold.