Mobile Device Tethering for Remote Parking Assist
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current remote parking assist systems face challenges in accurately determining the distance of a mobile device from a vehicle using commercial wireless technologies, particularly due to the limitations of GPS accuracy, which fails to meet regulatory requirements such as the 6-meter distance requirement in European regulations.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a system that uses a combination of dead reckoning, localization techniques, proximity sensors, image recognition, and key fob polling to determine the initial location and distance of the mobile device from the vehicle, including the use of projection lamps to visually indicate the boundary and modify its representation based on the device's distance and vehicle state.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If GPS coordinates comparison is used to determine mobile device distance from vehicle, then the system is simple to implement, but the measurement accuracy is insufficient to meet regulatory requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple distance determination methods (GPS, dead reckoning, proximity sensors, image recognition, key fob polling) into a unified system that selects and integrates the most accurate method based on current conditions, thereby achieving high measurement precision without requiring all methods to operate simultaneously, which would increase complexity excessively
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically changes the parameters and methods used for distance determination based on environmental conditions, vehicle state, and available technologies. For example, it switches between GPS-based methods and sensor-based methods depending on whether the device is inside or outside the vehicle, thereby optimizing accuracy for each specific scenario
2Measurement precision
If multiple determination methods are combined to improve accuracy, then measurement precision improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic system that adapts the complexity of distance determination based on real-time conditions. The body control module selectively activates specific determination methods (GPS, dead reckoning, proximity sensors, image recognition, key fob polling) based on whether the mobile device is inside or outside the vehicle, the operational state, and environmental factors, thereby achieving high accuracy without maintaining maximum complexity at all times
Solution Approach 2:
The determination system is divided into multiple independent modules (GPS module, dead reckoning module, proximity sensor module, image recognition module, key fob polling module), each handling specific aspects of distance determination. This segmentation allows the system to activate only the necessary modules for each situation, improving accuracy when needed while reducing complexity when simpler methods suffice
3Reliability
If the mobile device must be within 6 meters of the vehicle for RePA operation, then safety is improved, but the ease of operation is reduced as the operator must remain close
Solution Approach 1:
The system provides continuous feedback to the operator through the mobile device application, displaying real-time distance measurements, boundary visualizations, and system status. This feedback mechanism keeps the operator informed about their proximity to the vehicle and the system's confidence in distance measurements, allowing them to make informed decisions about when to approach closer for verification versus when to trust the autonomous system from a distance
Data Source
AI summary
Method and apparatus are disclosed for mobile device tethering for a remote parking assist system of a vehicle. An example vehicle includes projection lamps and a body control module. The body control module determines a distance of a mobile device from the vehicle. The body control module also projects a representation of a boundary around the vehicle using the projection lamps and modifies the representation of the boundary based on the distance of the mobile device from the vehicle and an operational state of the vehicle.