Method for detecting damage to an outer shell of a vehicle

A method for detecting damage to an outer shell of a vehicle, wherein the vehicle is of a specific type with specific vehicle data, the method comprising the following steps:

• classifying damage to the outer shell of the vehicle into at least two groups, wherein damage of a first group of the groups has a greater severity of damage than damage of a second group of the groups;
• ascertaining:
• (i) an acceleration of the vehicle using an acceleration sensor and/or (ii) a rotation rate of the vehicle using a rotation rate sensor;
• wherein damage of the first group is ascertained when the acceleration of the vehicle exceeds a threshold value of the acceleration and/or when the rotation rate of the vehicle exceeds a threshold value of the rotation rate, and
• comparing the acceleration and/or the rotation rate to acceleration values learned for a specific vehicle type of the vehicle and/or rotation rate values learned for the specific vehicle type, wherein damage of the second group is ascertained when damage is detected as a function of the comparison to the learned values,
• wherein the outer shell of the vehicle is divided into at least nine different zones, and wherein a position of the damage to the vehicle in one or more of the nine areas is detected as a function of the comparison to the acceleration values learned for a specific vehicle type of the vehicle and/or the rotation rate values learned for the specific vehicle type.