Method for evaluating objects in the path of a vehicle

A radar sensor mounted on a vehicle for detecting objects located or moving ahead is known, for example, from German Patent Application No. 42 42 700. This radar sensor may be, for example, a component of an adaptive cruise control (ACC) which continuously processes information about the distance and velocity of the vehicle relative to other vehicles and to the road conditions. This arrangement can enhance a cruise control, which is also known, by adapting the driving speed to slower vehicles moving ahead, when the latter are detected by the radar sensor, and if they are located in the anticipated path area of the vehicle. The path area can be determined, for example, with the help of yaw-rate sensors, steering-angle sensors, and cross-acceleration sensors, wheel speeds, and video sensors or navigation systems. A method for evaluating objects in the path of a vehicle, in which a sensor is used to detect the distance (d, d) and/or the speed of the target objects (Zo, Zi). In the presence of more than one target object (Zo, Zi), only the target object (Zi) that is in an area limited by at least one parameter defined by the position relative to the vehicle (F), is included in the evaluation as a new target object (Zo), instead of the current one. The following parameters can be included as conditions for selecting a new target object: d MAX (d, d+d, *d).