Cooperative Vehicle Parking Sensor Distance Accuracy
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional ultrasonic parking sensor systems have limited time and spatial resolution due to sequential emission of pulses, which affects the accuracy of distance estimation and object detection, especially when multiple echoes are required to identify objects.
Innovation Solution
A method that enhances the accuracy of parking assistance systems by coordinating communication between the parking vehicle's sensors and those of a nearby parked vehicle using wireless RF links, such as Bluetooth or near-field communication, to share distance measurements and improve inter-vehicle distance determination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If ultrasonic sensors emit pulses sequentially to avoid interference, then disruptive interference and echo-effects are reduced, but time resolution and spatial resolution are very limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a single-vehicle sensor system to a multi-vehicle cooperative sensing system. By adding the dimension of multiple vehicles exchanging distance data wirelessly, the system achieves higher measurement precision without increasing the pulse emission frequency, thus resolving the contradiction between avoiding interference and improving time resolution.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces wireless communication as an intermediary between vehicles. Instead of relying solely on sequential ultrasonic pulses, the system uses wireless data exchange to share distance measurements, thereby improving overall measurement precision without causing disruptive interference or echo effects.
2Measurement precision
If multiple sensors are arranged around the vehicle to improve detection coverage, then object detection capability is enhanced, but disruptive interference and echo-effects increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses wireless communication as an intermediary to share distance measurement data between vehicles. This allows each vehicle to have fewer sensors while achieving better detection coverage through data exchange, thereby reducing echo-effects and disruptive interference while maintaining enhanced detection capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the sensing capabilities of multiple vehicles by combining their distance measurements through wireless communication. This cooperative approach achieves enhanced detection coverage equivalent to having more sensors on a single vehicle, but without the harmful echo-effects and interference that would result from deploying additional sensors.
3Ease of operation
If distance measurements are performed using conventional sensors to assist parking, then basic parking assistance is provided, but accuracy of distance measurements is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces wireless communication as an intermediary to exchange distance measurement data between the parking vehicle and nearby parked vehicles. This allows the parking vehicle to obtain more accurate distance measurements by combining its own sensor data with data from other vehicles, thereby improving measurement precision while maintaining ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where distance measurement data is exchanged and combined between vehicles. The parking vehicle receives feedback from other vehicles' sensors and uses this information to improve its distance measurement accuracy, creating a cooperative system that enhances precision without complicating the parking assistance operation.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This method increases the accuracy of distance measurements and scanning precision during parking maneuvers, reducing the risk of damage and optimizing parking space utilization by providing more precise distance information.
Implementation Method 1
Conventional parking sensor systems generally employ ultrasonic proximity sensors
Implementation Method 2
these sensors each emit an ultrasonic pulse sequentially, wherein in each case the other sensors record the echo signals
Implementation Method 3
This communication can take place by way of, for example, a wireless radiofrequency (RF) link (such as Bluetooth, near field communication)
Data Source
AI summary
A method of operating a parking assistance system involves operating a first sensor onboard a parking vehicle to obtain a first distance measurement to a parked vehicle, and transmitting a first wireless signal which activates a second sensor onboard the parked vehicle. The second sensor obtains a second distance measurement to the parking vehicle and transmits the result via a second wireless signal. The second wireless signal is received by the parking vehicle which then determines an inter-vehicle distance based on the first and second distance measurements, and uses the inter-vehicle distance to perform a parking maneuver. The transmission of the second distance measurement by the parked vehicle may be contingent upon existence of a condition (such as a sufficient state-or-charge of a vehicle battery or prior consent of an operator) of the parked vehicle when the parked vehicle receives the first wireless signal.