Parking Assist Path Update Using Dynamic Obstacle Direction Estimation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current parking assist systems face challenges in accurately estimating obstacles during perpendicular parking, particularly with non-flat objects like walls or H-shaped steel members, leading to decreased parking accuracy and increased maneuvering efforts.
Innovation Solution
A parking assist system that estimates the extending directions of obstacles on both sides of the parking space using ultrasonic sensors, updates the planned moving path based on these directions, and adjusts the path until the vehicle reaches the target position, ensuring accurate parking by using updated obstacle directions that meet predetermined conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If ultrasonic sensors are used to estimate obstacle positions during perpendicular parking, then the system can detect obstacles on right and left sides of the host vehicle, but the measurement precision decreases when obstacles have non-flat surfaces like walls or H-shaped steel members
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically updates the extending directions of obstacles during the parking maneuver. Instead of relying on a single static estimation, the ultrasonic sensor continuously measures obstacle positions at multiple stages (when vehicle is at initial position, during reversal, and when approaching target position), and the ECU updates the obstacle extending directions based on these new measurements. This dynamic adaptation allows the system to compensate for initial estimation errors caused by non-flat surfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback by using the ultrasonic sensor to continuously monitor obstacle positions during the parking process. The ECU compares the measured obstacle positions with the planned moving path, and when the vehicle approaches the target parking position, the system re-estimates the obstacle extending directions based on updated sensor data. This feedback loop enables correction of initial measurement errors and improves final parking accuracy.
2Productivity
If the system uses initial obstacle extending directions to calculate the planned moving path, then the parking assist can be initiated, but the parking accuracy decreases due to inaccurate obstacle position estimation
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by initially estimating the extending directions of obstacles and calculating a planned moving path based on these estimates, allowing the parking assist to start promptly. The initial estimation enables the system to provide guidance to the driver without unnecessary delays, while the understanding that this initial data will be refined during the process.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from a static initial path calculation to a dynamic path refinement process. As the vehicle reverses and approaches the target parking position, the ECU updates the obstacle extending directions based on new ultrasonic sensor measurements. This dynamic update allows the system to correct initial estimation errors and improve parking accuracy without requiring the driver to restart the maneuver.
3Manufacturing precision
If the system requires multiple maneuvering processes to achieve accurate parking, then the driver can achieve better parking position, but the time required for parking increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses feedback from ultrasonic sensor measurements taken at different stages of the parking maneuver to continuously refine the obstacle position estimates. By measuring obstacle positions when the vehicle is at the initial position, during reversal, and when approaching the target position, the system accumulates data that improves accuracy. This feedback mechanism reduces the need for multiple corrective maneuvering cycles, thereby reducing parking time while maintaining high accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces repeated mechanical maneuvering with intelligent path recalculation. Instead of requiring the driver to perform multiple forward-reverse cycles to achieve accurate parking, the ECU automatically updates the planned moving path based on refined obstacle position estimates from ultrasonic sensor data. This substitution of mechanical trial-and-error with computational refinement reduces both time and complexity.
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 approach enhances parking accuracy and reliability, allowing for quicker completion of the parking process by updating the path dynamically based on the estimated obstacle directions, reducing the number of maneuvering steps required.
Implementation Method 1
estimate first extending directions that are extending directions of obstacles respectively located on right and left sides of the target parking space... with the use of, for example, ultrasonic sensors (so-called sonars)
Data Source
AI summary
A parking assist system includes an electronic control unit configured to: estimate first extending directions of obstacles respectively located on right and left sides of a target parking space in a state where a host vehicle moves across in front of the target parking space; calculate a planned moving path based on the estimated first extending directions; as the host vehicle is guided into the target parking space, estimate second extending directions of the obstacles respectively located on the right and left sides of the target parking space while updating the second extending directions; determine whether the estimated and updated second extending directions satisfy a predetermined condition; and when the updated second extending directions satisfy the predetermined condition, update the planned moving path by using the updated second extending directions instead of the first extending directions or the second extending directions before being updated.