External Trajectory Guidance for Autonomous Parking

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current vehicles lack the necessary systems and data for fully automated valet parking, making it impractical or difficult due to the requirement for extensive control units, sensors, and data.

Innovation Solution

A method and device for determining and transmitting a route to a motor vehicle via a communication network, with external monitoring to ensure autonomous navigation and deviation correction, taking into account the vehicle's condition and specific parking space geometry, allowing for remote control without the need for onboard localization or GPS.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Extent of automation

If fully automated valet parking is implemented using current vehicles, then autonomous parking capability is achieved, but device complexity increases significantly due to requirement for extensive control units, sensors, and data systems

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveautonomous parking capabilityVSAvoidcontrol units and sensors
Core Design Contradiction:
Extent of automationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the complex trajectory calculation and route determination functions from the vehicle and relocates them to an external server. The server receives localization data from the vehicle and parking lot data, then calculates the optimal trajectory externally, sending only the resulting route back to the vehicle. This extraction eliminates the need for complex onboard control units and sensors while maintaining autonomous parking capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Device complexity

If trajectory calculation is performed externally via communication network, then device complexity in vehicle is reduced, but loss of information increases due to reliance on external server and communication infrastructure

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevehicle control systemsVSAvoidtrajectory data
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements a feedback mechanism where the external server receives localization data from the vehicle and parking lot data, calculates the trajectory, and sends the calculated route back to the vehicle. The vehicle then executes this route and provides feedback on its position and status. This closed-loop feedback ensures accurate trajectory following while maintaining low vehicle complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Reliability

If autonomous driving section is monitored for deviation, then reliability of parking maneuver is improved, but use of energy increases due to continuous monitoring and communication

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveparking maneuver accuracyVSAvoidmonitoring system energy
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The monitoring system operates periodically rather than continuously, checking the vehicle's position at intervals during the autonomous parking maneuver. The system determines whether the vehicle is following the calculated route and detects deviations only when necessary, rather than maintaining constant monitoring. This periodic approach maintains reliability while significantly reducing energy consumption compared to continuous monitoring.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Data Source

PatentEP3998518B1Guidance of a motor vehicle in a car park
Publication Date: 2023.06.07 ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
  • EP3998518B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3998518B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4A
  • EP3998518B1 patent drawingFigure 4B~4C

AI summary

A method for guiding a motor vehicle in a parking lot comprises steps of determining a trajectory on the parking lot from a starting position to a destination position externally to the motor vehicle, sending at least a single segment of the trajectory to the motor vehicle via a communication network, and monitoring the motor vehicle for deviations by means of an external monitoring system as it autonomously travels the segment, so that the motor vehicle can travel the trajectory in segments, wherein the trajectory is determined depending on the characteristics of the motor vehicle, and wherein the respective length of a segment depends on a traffic density or object density.