Accident reconstruction based on data retrieved from vehicle control units / Unfallrekonstruktion auf Basis von Daten aus Steuergeräten

Based on examples, crash and common data from vehicle control units of modern vehicles is presented. For the paper examples of every day work of the author and DEKRA were collected and examined. The examination shows the state... [ view full abstract ]

Based on examples, crash and common data from vehicle control units of modern vehicles is presented. For the paper examples of every day work of the author and DEKRA were collected and examined. The examination shows the state of the art and the technical possibilities for accident analysts when electronic systems are involved after a crash. When those systems are involved into an accident or an unusual event there is the possibility that relevant data is stored in different ways in control units. The paper shows methods how to get to this data. The paper shows furthermore the problems and the risk which appear when an accident analyst tries to get those stored data. The collected data is compared to the results from traditional accident reconstruction. The main target is to help accident analysts to know, to use and to interpret very carefully the data fom control units.

To get an overview of possible ways to get to stored data, special cases of the author and DEKRA where investigated. The examples deal with heavy accidents or very often accidents with fatal injuries for at least one involved... [ view full abstract ]

To get an overview of possible ways to get to stored data, special cases of the author and DEKRA where investigated. The examples deal with heavy accidents or very often accidents with fatal injuries for at least one involved person. The cases start at the accident scene shortly after the accident. So a very detailed documentation of the scene is available. The documentation of the accident details is the basis for the following reconstruction. To get to the data many different ways were used. Data collection starts with the vehicle on board diagnosis. General testing systems such as AVL, Gutmann or Easy Diag were used. Even EDR data, Ecall Data and manufacturer’s service data is contained in some examples. The collaboration and the results of an electronic laboratory for customers is presented. To validate the results traditional methods of accident reconstruction was faced to the results from the electronic devices.