sensor s provided on the mobile unit is are able to detect lateral objects i e objects which are transverse to the direction of travel this function may for example be achieved by a frontally situated sensor for example the sensor 23 however separate sensors may also be provided for this purpose fig3 illustrates a mobile platform 30 including four laterally situated sensors 37 which are used for the purposes of the present disclosure these may be the same type of sensors which are also used for the frontally situated protective sensor 33 however other types of sensors may also be used for this purpose it is particularly advantageous if the laterally detectable obstacles are differentiated to the extent that in the case of very narrow or small lateral objects no reduction of the speed takes place this may be carried out via a corresponding filtering or smoothing of the detected signals for example the smoothing may be carried out at the last second via the formation of a median value or an average value of the wall distances it is thus avoided for example that a laterally situated column door frame or the like causes a reduction in the maximum speed which is actually not required in the method according to the present disclosure the actual direction of travel or the steering angle of the mobile platform may also be taken into account this placing separate demands on the sensor system which measures the distance from lateral obstacles depending on the direction of travel the measurement is oriented in a different direction in addition the method according to the present disclosure may also be combined with devices which ensure that a.