Method and apparatus for avoiding or mitigating vehicle collisions

A method for operating a collision avoidance or mitigation system of a vehicle, said method comprising:

• detecting an existing driving space between the vehicle and a potential collision object;
• activating at least one of a first warning function and an information function when a first threshold value is reached;
• and
• activating a system intervention with autonomous partial braking combined with at least one further safety measure when a second threshold value is reached;
• wherein, said partial braking is a braking that is limited such that a resulting deceleration does not exceed a predetermined maximum value,
• wherein the partial braking is carried out with a braking acceleration which is limited to a maximum of 90% of a deceleration required for collision avoidance,
• wherein the braking acceleration of the partial braking is limited to a maximum limit, which is predetermined dependent upon speed, and
• wherein at low driving speeds, a higher limit is set for the braking acceleration of the partial braking than at higher driving speeds.

A collision avoidance or collision mitigation system for a vehicle comprising:

• means for detecting an existing driving space between the vehicle and a potential collision object;
• means for activating at least one of a first warning function and an information function when a first threshold value is reached;
• and
• means for activating a system intervention with autonomous partial braking combined with at least one further safety measure when a second threshold value that is less than said first threshold value is reached;
• wherein, said partial braking is a braking that is limited such that a resulting deceleration does not exceed a predetermined maximum value,
• wherein said partial braking is limited to a deceleration value that is less than a deceleration that is necessary to avoid a collision.