Autonomous Vehicle Parking Strategy Based on Idle Time

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Solution Overview

Problem

Autonomous vehicles face inefficiencies in determining optimal parking locations based on expected idle time and available parking thresholds, often requiring more time and resources to park in dedicated lots compared to on-street spots.

Innovation Solution

An autonomous vehicle system determines an expected idle time and identifies either a first parking area with a sufficient threshold time for longer stays or a second area for shorter stays, optimizing parking decisions by processing this information with onboard sensors and communication networks.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If autonomous vehicles park in dedicated parking lots or garages, then parking availability is ensured, but parking time and resource consumption increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveparking availabilityVSAvoidparking time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts parking location selection based on real-time conditions including expected idle time, parking threshold times, and vehicle priority levels. The autonomous vehicle can switch between dedicated parking areas and alternative locations depending on current operational parameters, making the parking strategy adaptive rather than static

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

Different parking areas are assigned different characteristics and thresholds. Dedicated parking lots have higher parking threshold times suitable for long-term parking, while alternative locations have lower thresholds for short-term parking. The system selects the appropriate parking area based on the vehicle's specific needs and expected idle duration

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Reliability

If autonomous vehicles use dedicated parking areas, then parking reliability is improved, but resource consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveparking reliabilityVSAvoidresource consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically determines whether to use dedicated parking areas or alternative locations based on the autonomous vehicle's priority level and expected idle time. High-priority vehicles with long expected idle times are directed to dedicated parking areas, while lower-priority vehicles or those with short idle times use alternative locations, optimizing resource consumption based on actual needs

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes key parameters including vehicle priority level, expected idle time, and parking threshold time to determine the optimal parking location. By adjusting these parameters dynamically, the system can switch between high-reliability dedicated parking and lower-resource alternative locations based on current operational requirements

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS11192542B2Parking of autonomous vehicles
Publication Date: 2021.12.07 INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINE CORPORATION

AI summary

Methods, systems and computer program products for parking autonomous vehicles are provided. Aspects include determining, by an autonomous vehicle, an expected period of time that the autonomous vehicle will be idle and identifying, by the autonomous vehicle, a first parking area and a first parking threshold time associated with the first parking area. Based at least in part on a determination that the first parking threshold time is greater than the expected period of time, aspects include moving the autonomous vehicle to the first parking area. Based at least in part on a determination that the first parking threshold time is less than the expected period of time, aspects also include identifying, by the autonomous vehicle, a second parking area and moving the autonomous vehicle to the second parking area.